r their hit show house of cards, successfully suing him for costs incurred . totalling $31 million. incurred. totalling $31 million. spacey still has two films, including a british political thriller slate for release this year. thriller slate for release this year . and now that he's been year. and now that he's been acquitted, the question is whether he can rebuild his career to its previous stature. paul hawkins. gb news. >> well, good afternoon. >> well, good afternoon. >> it's just >> well, good afternoon. >> it'sjust just >> well, good afternoon. >> it's just just gone. 3:00. i'm nana akua. >> it's just just gone. 3:00. i'm nana akua . i'm in for i'm nana akua. i'm in for patrick christie . and of course, patrick christie. and of course, we've had this incredible verdict. but coming up the verdict. but coming up in the next hour , the breaking story. next hour, the breaking story. kevin spacey has been found not guilty on all counts. we'll be covering more of that. and then, of course, nigel farage, the banking scandal goes on. it rumbles on. of course, dame alison rose has resigned , but alison rose has resigned, but should she be the only one to go.7 and should she be the only one to go? and as we all know, the wildfires, the big story of raging on through parts of europe they're spreading .

europe and they're spreading. we'll be looking at that holidays from hell for those who are there and, of course, rishi sunak speaking at the sunak has been speaking at the blood looking blood inquiry. we'll be looking into that throughout show as into that throughout the show as well and find out what his comments all that are on comments are. all that are on the sunak gives evidence the way as sunak gives evidence . so aslef get in touch in the usual way. to gb views gbnews.com or tweet us at gb news. also don't forget 80 years old, we'll be discussing great rock legend. who is he? but first, let's get your latest news headlines with rory . news headlines with rory. >> thank you very much, nana. well, as you've been hearing, breaking news coming to us in the last few minutes and kevin spacey has been found not guilty on all counts of sexual assault. the 64 year old oscar winning actor has been found not guilty of assaulting, sexually assaulting four men. that was in

the period . between 2001 and the period. between 2001 and 2013 when he had tears in his eyes as a jury cleared him of the sex offences and under questioning from spacey's lawyer , the complainants all denied either seeking financial gain as attempting to further their career or giving false accounts to the jury. this is breaking news. we will have more of this in the next half hour with nana . in other news this afternoon, the former ceo of natwest is no longer a member of the prime minister's business council . minister's business council. dame alison rose has also resigned from her roles as co—chair of the energy efficiency task force and as a member of the net zero council. after being asked to step down by the secretary of state, it's after ms rose admitted she discussed nigel farage relationship with the bank cuts to a bbc journalist while economic secretary to the treasury andrew griffith told us the proposals are being forwarded to benefit banking

customers , as it's very customers, as it's very important that customers can have trust in their bank, that they're not going to have their services withdrawn because of their political views or something within the law that they have said. >> that's what i reiterated to all of the uk's bank and building society bosses at a meeting this morning that we've just had. and it's why the government is bringing forward changes to the regulations to make that even clearer, to mean that customers do have to get a reason, have longer to look at other arrangements and have greater opportunity to challenge that. >> firefighters continue to tackle wildfires circling the mediterranean, claiming the lives of more than 40 people, around 3000 holidaymakers have fled roads with temperatures. they're set for to exceed 45 c. it's a major heatwave is sweeping across north africa, where at least 34 people have died in southern italy, around

2000 people have been evacuated from three hotels in a popular tourist destination . as fire tourist destination. as fire rages close by, blazes have also broken out in other parts, including portugal, syria, gran canaria, southern france and tunisia. meteor ecologist jim dale told us the high temperatures are not expected to decrease anytime . soon decrease anytime. soon >> the world's hotting up and it does include the mediterranean and this this kind of thing, this kind of thing that you've seen in the photographs in the in the video, this is going to continue there continue. you there is a slightly cooler air. i say cooler, less hot air moving through the middle of the mediterranean. so sicily mediterranean. so italy, sicily , spain, these sort of places a little bit of a relief. but but not for turkey, not for greece. i think it will continue in the oven , in the prime minister says oven, in the prime minister says that victims and people affected by the infected blood scandal have been denied justice for decades. >> whilst giving evidence to the infected blood inquiry , rishi

infected blood inquiry, rishi sunak says he did not personally see a letter in 2020 preparing for the possibility of paying compensation to victims . mr compensation to victims. mr sunak says that since the letter was written, interim compensation payments have been made to around 4500 people. protests are currently taking place in central london as demonstrators call for full compensation payments to those affected . the owner of tottenham affected. the owner of tottenham hotspur has surrendered to us authorities in manhattan after being charged over an alleged insider trading scheme. 86 year old british billionaire joe louis is accused of abusing his access to corporate boardrooms and providing inside information to others who then allegedly made millions of dollars in the stock market. a tottenham club spokesperson says it's a legal matter, unconnected with the club . one person has been killed club. one person has been killed and several injured after a major fire on a cargo ship in

the north sea off the coast of the north sea off the coast of the netherlands . a major rescue the netherlands. a major rescue operation has been carried out on the ship that was carrying 3000 vehicles. a helicopter airlifted the 22 remaining people from the burning ship . people from the burning ship. they're all being treated for breathing problems , burns and breathing problems, burns and broken bones . the ship had been broken bones. the ship had been on its way from germany to egypt when a caught fire spreading so quickly that several crew members were forced to jump overboard . a consultation on overboard. a consultation on train ticket office closures , train ticket office closures, which was due to end today , has which was due to end today, has been extended to september. the first. train operators unveiled proposals earlier this month for multiple closures of the offices after the transport secretary, mark harper , urged them to cut mark harper, urged them to cut costs . the plans are criticised costs. the plans are criticised by groups representing passengers and the rmt this is gb news. we will of course bring you more as it happens . now you more as it happens. now though, back to nana .

though, back to nana. >> good afternoon . this is gb >> good afternoon. this is gb news. we are the people's channel. i'm nana o'quinn and we started with the news we broke just a few moments ago. oscar winning actor kevin spacey has been found not guilty of sexually assaulting four men following a trial in southwark crown court. let's have a quick chat with our national reporter theo chikomba, who's outside southwark crown court as we speak. theo so talk me through , speak. theo so talk me through, talk me through what's happened i >> -- >> mr lama >> mr spacey including chris lennon, yes. well, the 64 year old hollywood actor kevin spacey cried as he was cleared after a trial which started here in june at southwark crown court. >> during which he was described as a sexual bully by the prosecution. >> now giving evidence, spacey fought back tears as he told his world exploded when other allegations first emerged against him in the us in 2017. >> he said there was a rush to

judgement and before for any question was asked or answered, i lost my job. i lost my reputation. i lost everything in a matter of days, in a matter of days , he told the jury. here at days, he told the jury. here at southwark crown court. now, spacey was an artistic director at the old vic between 2004 and 2015. he was accused of drugging and performing a sex act on a former aspiring actor. he while he slept and several assaults on another man, a driver who claimed the actor grabbed his crotch. so hard on one occasion that he almost came off the road . another man claimed that the hollywood actor subjected him to a barrage of vile sexual abuse before grabbing his crotch like a cobra at a west end event. while the fourth said a hollywood star kissed his neck and told him to be cool again before grabbing his crotch. now, spacey beauty, the usual suspects and of course, the political drama house of cards. now here at southwark crown

court, a jury has now cleared him of all charges. now his defence team had labelled the prosecution's case against him as weak, accusing some of the complainants of being after money, which they deny. we heard today again some of those people saying that they were doing this because it's been difficult for them and they didn't want to do this and they've had success in their career and so on. now the actor told the court he was a flirt and that he had been open about times when he was promiscuous, adding that it doesn't make me a bad person. he later jurors that he found later told jurors that he found it harder to trust people because of who he was due to his fame and of course, his status as an actor. and he's also said he felt under pressure to come out publicly as gay after allegations of sexual misconduct were first levelled at him. and dunng were first levelled at him. and during the trial, we heard how it's been difficult for him in the last couple of to find the last couple of years to find work. and there are two further films are due to come out films which are due to come out and some productions have worked

with in the last few years. with him in the last few years. but there are questions now what does him going does this mean for him going forward will his career forward? will we see his career reignited? but as of today , he's reignited? but as of today, he's been cleared of nine charges that were against him here at southwark crown court . wow. southwark crown court. wow. i mean, an incredible verdict. and i don't know whether people thought that that would be the outcome . um, but it sort of it outcome. um, but it sort of it sort of tells us that actually we need to be careful with regard to social media. was that what the judge's main sort what was the judge's main sort of summing with regard to why of summing up with regard to why he he wasn't guilty ? i he said that he wasn't guilty? i think this case. so it's been a case of hearing various examples of what's happened over the years . but of course, some of years. but of course, some of these things happened a long time ago . the court heard during time ago. the court heard during some of the evidence when mr spacey was speaking that some of these things were happening a long time ago. but that he felt that he was not aggressive. he was not putting these

allegations, which we've heard over the last few weeks towards some of these men who've been highlighted . and, of course, the highlighted. and, of course, the judge mentioned to the jury that he had to take all these things into consideration. we've heard over the last few weeks from people like sir elton john, former actor , others as well, former actor, others as well, and people who've known mr spacey. so that was all, of course, a part of the judge summing this week. and of course, today, as well. well, of course, today, as well. well, of course . really good to talk to course. really good to talk to you. and that is theo chikomba. he's there outside southwark crown right now. joining crown court right now. joining me gb news presenter pip tomson in studio now pip, so this in the studio now pip, so this is a verdict that i think for me , i kind of felt that that would be the outcome certainly for many reasons, that the, you know , the things that have happened happened so long ago. and some of them did seem somewhat vague. happened so long ago. and some of tikevinid seem somewhat vague. happened so long ago. and some of tikevin spacey somewhat vague. happened so long ago. and some of tikevin spacey has1ewhat vague. happened so long ago. and some of tikevin spacey has pretty vague. happened so long ago. and some of tikevin spacey has pretty much. but kevin spacey has pretty much lost everything out of this. >> he absolutely has lost everything . and this everything. and after this verdict, this four week verdict, after this four week trial, you would expect that he will try and build his hollywood

career, because let's remember just how famous and how hollywood aid, if you like. kevin spacey is. i mean, he was in usual suspect, aukus american beauty , wasn't it? which is what beauty, wasn't it? which is what he got the oscar for . and then he got the oscar for. and then there was house of cards , which there was house of cards, which ran to some six series, but he didn't actually only appear in the last series of house of cards, which was an absolute smash on netflix, but he couldn't appear because of all these allegations that surfaced . also, he was the former artistic director at the old vic. he also had to leave that role as well. so, you know, this child has only gone on for four weeks. but the effect that it's had on kevin spacey's career has been absolutely catastrophic. and i don't think it's going to be quite as simple as picking himself up now and just rebuilding his career like that. there's still to going be a long journey ahead of him. you know, will social media, you will he use social media, you know, that outlet to rehabilitate his image? will he focus on india dependent

projects? you know, he will want to get back to his old job. but how easy for our fans or maybe his former fans going to make it for him to do that. >> but it does demonstrate , >> but it does demonstrate, though, how how social media and how how devastate it can be, especially when the person in the end is actually found guilty because found not guilty. yeah. so he's being found not guilty of any of the charges at all? yes and it begs the question as to whether we should actually be looking at the way we do things with regard to there's a lot of conversation as well , nana about conversation as well, nana about whether when people when men or even a woman are is accused of a sexual offence, should they also have legal anonymity like the victim? >> and i think that debate will come up again in light of this because of the effect that it has had on his career on his reputation, and the fact that it he can't just pick himself up again, it's still going to take time, isn't it? and we should just mention in the trials, some

absolute extraordinary moments. you know , hollywood came to you know, hollywood came to london to southwark crown court, kevin spacey being pictured, you know, by the press every day, going into going into court and those extraordinary moments include id sir elton john giving evidence from monaco. you know, he suddenly popped up via video link along with his partner, david furnish . and there was david furnish. and there was that incredible moment as well, where elton john was asked to give his name. and he said, elton, he hercules, john, you know, and everybody was sitting up and saying, oh, my goodness , up and saying, oh, my goodness, you know, elton john's giving evidence. we only just seen him on stage glastonbuy . you on stage at glastonbuy. you know, this court case was know, this this court case was absolutely captivating in many, many ways. but at the centre of it was kevin spacey, who has had this long, long career behind him, still hopes to have a career ahead of him. can he rebuild it now ? rebuild it now? >> well, i think the wider question was the one that you posed earlier as to what we do

about these sort of cases , about these sort of cases, because those who brought the allegations forward remained anonymous , whereas kevin spacey anonymous, whereas kevin spacey is out there and we're all looking at kevin spacey and kevin career kevin spacey's career is devastated destroyed . but devastated and destroyed. but the keeping those the argument for keeping those people quiet, you know , hidden people quiet, you know, hidden is because naming the person will bring other victims , other will bring other victims, other so—called victims forward who will speak. and that's the thing. but on the other side, it's devastating for the person who forward. who has been brought forward. i think huge think there's a huge conversation about that. yeah, because they be because how will they be perceived going forward? >> because kevin spacey for a long time now has been absolutely nullified. he's been shunned for a long time. and even though we were still awaiting the trial, the four week trial, all during that time , people have still been able to put what they want on social media. you know, we know much tinier way how vile social media can be. so it does it does sound like , you know, there will be like, you know, there will be people campaigning yet again for

there to be change because can this actually keep happening? can people's lives be destroyed like this , their lives, career, like this, their lives, career, their reputation , even, you their reputation, even, you know, in court , kevin spacey's know, in court, kevin spacey's defence barrister said, yes , he defence barrister said, yes, he might be flirtatious. he might be a little odd, but that does not make him a sex offender. >> and that is the problem because it's not just him. there are other people who have been treated in this same way by social media and in the end found to have not done anything at all. and the worry is, you know, that we kind of need to learn from cases like this, because as you said, how kevin spacey puts you know, puts his moves forward from here would be questionable. but i'm thinking that up that he probably will end up kind film about this kind of doing a film about this and a book about and writing a book about what he's will he's been through, which will probably box office smash. probably be a box office smash. and really that would probably be a box office smash. ancyou really that would probably be a box office smash. ancyou know�*ally that would probably be a box office smash. ancyou know , lly that would probably be a box office smash. ancyou know , justice would probably be a box office smash. ancyou know , justice for uld probably be a box office smash. ancyou know , justice for him be, you know, justice for him in some well, he's some respects. well, he's he's going plenty to say, going to have plenty to say, isn't this. isn't he, after this. >> he will you know, >> and he will have you know, a huge pr team around him that will be helping him to do that,

because we all know kevin spacey is a hugely talented actor. you know, and there are a lot of people around the world that will want to see him back on the big screen in some form and will be wanting to see, you know, him, interviewed now and to give his side of the story , because i his side of the story, because i am sure he is going to have plenty to say about, you know, those who who made the allegations against him because if you think about it, this sort of thing happening on a smaller scale, as somebody who's less famous for their career and life could destroyed , but nobody could be destroyed, but nobody gets about it. could be destroyed, but nobody get but about it. could be destroyed, but nobody get but people out it. could be destroyed, but nobody get but people like it. could be destroyed, but nobody get but people like kevin >> but people like kevin spacey, he's now . he's he's got a platform now. he's got even people like he's got a platform now. he's got farage, even people like he's got a platform now. he's got farage, when1 people like he's got a platform now. he's got farage, when something

toll it takes on somebody. >> you know, he's had to walk into court as we've seen him. and yes, all appearances . and, and yes, all appearances. and, you know, he he seems a strong individual. but we don't know we don't know the dark places that he's gone to over the last few weeks, over the last few years because of this. he's probably lost friends because would lost friends because he would have lost friends because he would haerah. and of course, that >> yeah. and of course, that sort of allegation is one sort of allegation is really one that huge stigma attached that has a huge stigma attached to it, even if you're not guilty of anything. once you are in the fray of something like that, anything that is sexual, especially predatory kind of sexual behaviour that is sort of associate and linked with you, it's very hard to disassociate from that. and also it's very hard for people forward hard for people to move forward from . so every time everyone from it. so every time everyone sees thinking sees him, they'll be thinking that. have really that. so he must have really worked hard every day worked very hard every day to kind show his face and be kind of show his face and be strong because , you know, anyone strong because, you know, anyone can anything these days and can say anything these days and you kind of have to weather it until it almost felt like you're guilty, until you're proved guilty. >> and the fact that when the jury >> and the fact that when the jury cleared of these nine

jury cleared him of these nine sex offences, the fact that he had tears in his eyes really shows you the ordeal, really the harrowing ordeal that he has gone through with this a four week trial . but so much has gone week trial. but so much has gone on before we even got to that trial . trial. >> and it's not to discount what people are saying and those who have made accusations , but the have made accusations, but the bottom line is he's been found not guilty. worry is not guilty. and the worry is that people literally say that people can literally say anything about you and that can circulate on social media. and if you don't, i don't know who was it that famously said that if you don't if you don't stop a lie, then it becomes truth. lie, then it becomes the truth. so don't expose a lie for so if you don't expose a lie for being lie, if you say nothing, being a lie, if you say nothing, if silent, that isn't if you remain silent, that isn't even defence these days. you even a defence these days. you can't stay quiet because can't simply stay quiet because that lie becomes truth. that lie becomes the truth. >> absolutely . and i'm >> yeah, absolutely. and i'm sure that he will delve into those areas when he that those areas when he does that first interview. i'd first sit down interview. i'd love be gb i'm love it to be on gb news. i'm not sure it will be. it'll probably be with , you know, the probably be with, you know, the american perhaps . i'm not american media, perhaps. i'm not sure. not sure he'll have sure. i'm not sure he'll have much time for the for the uk

media this experience . not media after this experience. not because of the uk media, but because of the uk media, but because ordeal that he's because the ordeal that he's had, this trial taking place in the uk. you know, he probably wants to go home, to america. and interesting to see how the american media will report on this as well. but, you know, social media is obviously global. >> so those who are sort of having a go at him on social media are from all over the world. absolutely. that's the media are from all over the worl(thank lutely. that's the media are from all over the worl(thank you.y. that's the media are from all over the worl(thank you very at's the media are from all over the worl(thank you very much|e media are from all over the worl(thank you very much for media are from all over the work good; you very much for media are from all over the work good to>u very much for media are from all over the work good to talkery much for media are from all over the work good to talk to. �*nuch for media are from all over the work good to talk to. pleasure. that. good to talk to. pleasure. as pip tomson, she's here. she's been with regard as pip tomson, she's here. she's bewhat's with regard as pip tomson, she's here. she's bewhat's with kevini to what's happened with kevin spacey. found spacey. he's been found not guilty counts . just to guilty on all counts. just to remind you, breaking news that happened last half hour. happened in the last half hour. hollywood spacey hollywood star kevin spacey found not guilty on all charges in his trial for sexual assault. gb news national reporter paul hawkins looks at the background to the case. kwarteng sir , to the case. kwarteng sir, another high profile individual abusing their power or an innocent man wrongly accused the trial of kevin spacey was always going to generate huge media

interest . interest. >> the crown prosecution service has authorised four charges of sexual assault against hollywood actor kevin spacey relating to three men. the hollywood actor kevin spacey has been charged by the crown prosecution service with a further seven sex offences . offences. >> and by the end of the trial, spacey faced nine counts of sexual offence allegations by four different men from 2001 to 2013. it was at this west end theatre during a charity event in 2005 that one of those men said spacey grabbed him by his private parts and made lewd comments about him. the man later telling police it was like a cobra. but the hollywood actor said the man made his entire story up from beginning to end. describe the prosecution case as weak during the trial. spacey called himself a big flirt. weak during the trial. spacey called himself a big flirt . the called himself a big flirt. the prosecution said he was a sexual bully . another man claimed bully. another man claimed spacey drugged him and he woke up in the actor's flat to find the oscar winner performing a sex act on him. the hollywood

actor denied drugging him and said it was a consensual sexual experience and romantic situation . in central to the situation. in central to the prosecution's case was that he used his power and status to carry out the assaults , as many carry out the assaults, as many of them included allegations that he grabbed, squeezed and touched his four victims, genitals and buttocks over their clothing between 2005 and 2013, mostly during his time as artistic director at the old vic theatre , one accuser claimed theatre, one accuser claimed spacey grabbed his genitals on their way to a ball at elton john's house in 2002. but giving evidence, the singer said the actor attended the white tie and tiara event in 2001. the only year he could remember him attending . attending. >> grateful to our fans during the trial, the jury had claim and counterclaim. >> although spacey admitted he got the signals wrong with one accuser, but also described a sexual encounter with another as a romantic situation . he said he a romantic situation. he said he was lonely at times and found it

hard to trust people because of his fame . before this trial, his fame. before this trial, there had already been multiple allegations in the united states by men and women , some leading by men and women, some leading to private prosecutions about spacey's behaviour allegations he's always denied and private lawsuits. he successfully defended. but the damage to his 40 year career has been considerable. the tv and film projects dried up . projects dried up. >> you know, i happen to believe that we get what we deserve. >> netflix dropped him from the hit show house of cards successfully suing him for costs incurred totalling . $31 million. incurred totalling. $31 million. spacey still has two films, including a british political thriller slated for release this yeah thriller slated for release this year. but now that he's been acquitted, the question is whether he can rebuild his career to its previous stature . career to its previous stature. paul hawkins gb news so if you've just joined us, breaking news. >> kevin spacey in the last half houris >> kevin spacey in the last half hour is being cleared of all counts. i'm nana nana akua . this counts. i'm nana nana akua. this is gb news is just fast approaching. 25 minutes after

3:00. let's speak to our national reporter theo chikomba , who's outside southwark crown court. theo so what's the latest? can you give us an update ? update? >> and yeah, it's no doubt . >> and yeah, it's no doubt. >> and yeah, it's no doubt. >> yes. >> yes. >> well, in the last half an hour or so, the 64 year old hollywood actor kevin spacey was cleared of all nine charges here at southwark crown court to trial that lasted around three weeks. we heard evidence during the last couple of weeks from people who know him in the industry . we heard from sir industry. we heard from sir elton john. we heard from actors and more . and of course, today and more. and of course, today it's been a day where many people are here and have been anticipating there's been a large media presence here. now. spacey we expecting him potentially in the next 5 to 10 minutes. we've just been told. but there are now questions about what's going to happen next after he's been acquitted, how he's going to revive his career. he's got two productions on the way and over the last few

years, the trial heard that he's found it difficult to find work following when the allegations beganin following when the allegations began in 2017. in the us and now, of course, spacey was an artistic director at the old vic here in london. and it's a role here in london. and it's a role he he held for several years dunng he he held for several years during the trial. he spoke about how he'd attempted to work with several people from the industry to try and revive this venue. and they went on to have success there. and of course, he subsequently left that role in the between 2014 as well . now, the between 2014 as well. now, of course, the actor himself, he he's been here. he went the verdict was given this afternoon. and of course, his defence has accused the prosecution of not putting a case which is substantial. and they're saying some of these people were after money, for example, which they deny. they

say they're having a successful careers and that they are able to for themselves now. but this was about about getting their experiences heard and getting some sort of justice. but, of course, today here at southern crown court, he's been found not guilty of nine counts here at southwark crown court. thank you very much , theo. we'll catch up very much, theo. we'll catch up with you throughout the day. but joining us now is the host of the people podcast, the politics people podcast, paul duddridge there in paul duddridge, who's there in los angeles . paul, good to talk los angeles. paul, good to talk to you . so the news that that to you. so the news that that he's been cleared, thank goodness , kevin spacey and all goodness, kevin spacey and all counts, he's been cleared . how counts, he's been cleared. how has that gone down in america? is a big deal? is anyone is it a big deal? is anyone talking about it? there >> it's very early here in >> well, it's very early here in hollywood, think the news hollywood, so i think the news is breaking them. is just breaking for them. but it significant because it will be significant because this is perhaps the biggest actual criminal trial that has been associated with with these kind of allegations since harvey weinstein. and for kevin spacey to be cleared and in many ways exonerated is going to have

ramifications . the irony is, of ramifications. the irony is, of course, that he's getting his career back , perhaps during the career back, perhaps during the middle of a strike. so he's now free to join the picket line , i free to join the picket line, i guess was that the sort of news that people were expecting? >> because obviously you can't work out what you think might happen. can't talk about happen. you can't talk about that. people feel that that. but did people feel that that. but did people feel that that that the allegations felt a bit loose? >> they did. they did. having said that, you see a lot of these trials are actually happening in the court of public opinion and so i have to say you're exactly right. the allegations felt loose. nobody expected him to be found not guilty. and that was that that's been the reputation in destruction of a lot of people in the media, previously powerful people. that is kind of the play you have to remember. i mean, he is still on the hook for his production company for a civil matter with the end of house of cards. so i think

there's like a $25 million liable ability that he still faces in the united states in that civil matter of the reputational damage to the house of cards. i'm not a legal expert, but that's basically the nub of it because of the allegations warns of a previously unsuccessful case in the he actually had he is on the us, he actually had he is on the us, he actually had he is on the hook for $25 million here. so he's not got a completely clean slate . but this is the clean slate. but this is the kind of play because this is about reputation. this isn't necessarily about criminality, this is about reputational damage . damage. >> i suppose the worst part of it are that when you are actually found not guilty, which is a good thing in the end, you're guilty in a sense from the court of public opinion. as you say. so these things you say. so all these things that happened to him are as that have happened to him are as a result of allegations that have proven not to be true have been proven not to be true just through courts . that's just through the courts. that's what they found. absolutely how how celebrities kind of how do these celebrities kind of move forward with this? are they usually successful in the states after such things happening to

them ? them? >> yes. in short, i think that what's happening is , listen, what's happening is, listen, this might be an odd venn diagram , but if you look at diagram, but if you look at people like will smith and donald trump, the actual actions now are outweighed by the weight of fame that somebody brings with them . it's, oh, sorry , a with them. it's, oh, sorry, a bit of an accident here. in short . in short, kevin spacey is short. in short, kevin spacey is a worldwide household name, and there are plenty of regions in there are plenty of regions in the world like the chinese film industry, for instance, where he can work absolutely with no problem at all. so what's happening? look, even michael barrymore's, you know , rejigged barrymore's, you know, rejigged his career on tiktok with a million followers. et cetera . million followers. et cetera. simpson has a million twitter followers. there are so many ways to monetise one's fame that this idea that there is now some moral committee adjudicating whether somebody is allowed back in the creative process is kind of moot now. it's like there are so many routes to market that kevin spacey absolutely can be

successful again and can have fame . he just might not be fame. he just might not be hanging out with exactly the same people. >> he did say that after this he would sort of it would find sort of found it difficult people. that would find sort of found it difthat: people. that would find sort of found it difthat is people. that would find sort of found it difthat is a people. that would find sort of found it difthat is a difficulty le. that is, that is a difficulty these days, fame , isn't days, though, with fame, isn't it? fact that you can it? this the fact that you can be literally tried by social media to do in your view, do you think that america have think that does america have anything people anything to protect people onune? anything to protect people online? we are trying online? i mean, we are trying our own thing here, but in the states, is there any protection for people online? >> know , there really isn't >> you know, there really isn't any protection in again, we talk about donald trump frequently. >> one of the great things that's happening with donald trump is he is actually showing how robust he is against criminal criminal procedures. and then civil cases , people are and then civil cases, people are understanding more and more that sometimes i'm not saying in this case, but sometimes the judiciary is used to punish people that we just don't like or have fallen foul of some other kind of social. it isn't necessarily as clean and blind justice as we've grown up to

believe. so i think in the same way that somebody like kevin spacey is having his morality tested , in a sense, the law tested, in a sense, the law itself is being tested and found to be slightly wanting . i'm not to be slightly wanting. i'm not even sure a lot of these these charges that kevin spacey has faced should have even gone this far, should have gone to trial. he did volunteer. you have to remember with this british trial, the run trial, he didn't go on the run or he volunteered and or anything. he volunteered and turned up in the uk after some success, beating the rap in the us. but no, there is no protection. but i think the pubuc protection. but i think the public are becoming wise to the fact that there is there can be smoke without fire. >> i think that's what they bank on, isn't it? they bring there's a big furore around your name. everyone's talking about something and people think there's no smoke without fire. but that isn't but actually that isn't necessarily . so with regard necessarily true. so with regard to what's going on in la at the moment and kevin spacey, i presume in the morning that people when people wake up to this is it likely be this news, is it likely to be a

big news story? i know said this news, is it likely to be a biwillws story? i know said this news, is it likely to be a biwill be story? i know said this news, is it likely to be a biwill be quite i know said this news, is it likely to be a biwill be quite big,|ow said this news, is it likely to be a biwill be quite big,|ow do said this news, is it likely to be a biwill be quite big,|ow do youi it will be quite big, but do you think be talking think they'll all be talking about well? and you about it as well? and do you think might sparks of think it might make sparks of interest as to maybe how they could social could change things with social media situation could change things with social me people, situation could change things with social me people, especially situation could change things with social me people, especially in;ituation for people, especially in particular celebrities as yeah, no. >> 100. it's going to be the talking point of the day. there's no doubt about that. literally, just something as prosaic as the time difference. it hasn't really hit yet in hollywood. i mean, they're just getting up for their breakfast meetings, sure, to 730 in meetings, i'm sure, to 730 in the morning. but it will be the main talking point. but no, don't hold your breath that there's to be any changes there's going to be any changes or in this or protection. in fact, this whole culture whole this whole culture is going get worse and worse in going to get worse and worse in the years . the point is the coming years. the point is the coming years. the point is the public are becoming more and more to it. and people more immune to it. and people are resurrecting their careers left, right centre again , left, right and centre again, fame these days is not a moral question. you know, you wave fame, you don't judge it. and so kevin spacey is a household name and there are regions all over the world that are just absolute not interested in any of the

allegations that he's that he's been subject to. so it's not to going make a blind bit of difference. he just might suffer somewhat domestic box office. somewhat in domestic box office. but as we know, the us box office is now just one small portion of revenue for a project. yeah, yeah. >> life has changed, isn't it? before it was the box office. you need to be a box office smash now you can go twitter tik—tok. the tik—tok. all of them. all the social media platforms grow social media platforms to grow your can also your brand. but they can also take take down at the same take take you down at the same time . pull duddridge. always time. pull duddridge. always a pleasure. he's host the pleasure. he's the host of the politics people podcast. now let's media let's get thoughts of media lawyer jonathan code at jonathan .thank lawyer jonathan code at jonathan . thank you very much for joining me . you're welcome , joining me. you're welcome, jonathan. okay so we've heard a not guilty verdict. has kevin spacey got any should kevin spacey got any should kevin spacey be considering any further legal action because of what's happened to him or should he? oh, jonathan's gone off. shame, hopefully. oh, he's back . so should kevin spacey . . so should kevin spacey. consider any point. >> i've just lost your sound. >> i've just lost your sound. >> oh, you've lost me. let's see

if jonathan can hear me . if jonathan can hear me. jonathan, can you hear me? i've just lost sound. i'm so sorry. >> can. can you hear me? i can hear you loud and clear, jonathan. >> we'll just sort out jonathan's sound because it will be good get the verdict of be good to get the verdict of what he thinks. but also joining me is pip, who's been me live is pip, who's been here this afternoon . pip, you're this afternoon. pip, you're heanng this afternoon. pip, you're hearing what people are saying. trial feel trial by social media. i feel that the law needs to we need to sort the laws need catch sort of the laws need to catch up social now sort of the laws need to catch up yeah, ocial now sort of the laws need to catch up yeah, ocia|be now sort of the laws need to catch up yeah, ocia|be scrutinised >> yeah, it'll be scrutinised again. but let's let's remember, it's been scrutinised many times already and nothing much has changed. it's worth just noting as well that it is actually kevin spacey, 64th birthday today is it? yes. so he will be doing some celebrating , no doing some celebrating, no doubt, once we have heard from him. it's not quite clear yet, is it? if we're going to hear from him outside. so that crown court, we haven't we haven't seen him emerge yet, although are those the pictures of him arriving or leaving today ? just arriving or leaving today? just needing to check, arriving today. so those are pictures of

him arriving today. so we haven't actually seen him leaving yet, but we do know that he was very tearful as that jury cleared him of those nine sex offences which date back to a penod offences which date back to a period between 2000 and 1, 2013, accused of sexually assaulting four men. he had always said that he would fight the charges when he was first accused. he said how his world had exploded and allegations they first surfaced in the united states some five and a half years ago . some five and a half years ago. and that effectively had a domino effect. and he he lost his career. but he has said before the court case started as well, that although his world exploded, he maintained that there are directors and producers that are ready to hire me. the moment that i am cleared and that moment that has happened this afternoon as that jury happened this afternoon as that jury deliberates for 12 hours and 26 minutes, they've been deliberate since monday, and they have acquitted the oscar winning actor that that long of

those counts, that's not actually that long, is it? not when you consider that there was seven counts of sexual assault . seven counts of sexual assault. so there were quite a few allegations to consider then. but 12 hours and 26 minutes and they have found him not guilty on all charges. he said always maintained that the allegations against him were madness and a stab in the back. >> well, listen , i'm following >> well, listen, i'm following the not guilty verdict. so the crown prosecution service said, following thorough investigation by the metropolitan police , the by the metropolitan police, the cps made the decision to charge kevin spacey with sexual offences. the function of the cps is not to decide whether a person is guilty of a criminal offence , but to make fair, offence, but to make fair, independent and objective assessments about whether it is appropriate to present charges . appropriate to present charges. it is the role of the jury to consider the charges and we respect the decision of the court . let's bring back in court. let's bring back in jonathan cohen, who is a he is a hello, jonathan . you're back. hello, jonathan. you're back. we've got some sound for you

now. jonathan brilliant. oh, no, hang on. he's a media lawyer, but i can no longer hear him now. jonathan, can you hear me? you're not on mute, are you? >> i can hear you. can you hear me? >> i can hear you loud and clear. this is great. we've got you. good so you. okay, good. good right. so your there your thoughts on this, is there should spacey be should kevin spacey be rejoicing, the fact that he's now but now been found not guilty, but should he be considering any now been found not guilty, but shotof he be considering any now been found not guilty, but shotof charges onsidering any now been found not guilty, but shotof charges against1g any now been found not guilty, but shotof charges against those sort of charges against those who accused him in the first instance? >> well, this is this is an instance where there's been a huge justice and injustice at the same time , mr spacey has the same time, mr spacey has been found guilty by the social media and to some extent the whole of the media for years, ever since these allegations arose , it's now clear there arose, it's now clear there actually were 12 counts of sexual assault. the various kinds against him all have been dismissed . kinds against him all have been dismissed. but kinds against him all have been dismissed . but a kinds against him all have been dismissed. but a jury has had plenty of time to think about it. it's had all the opportunity necessary to consider the evidence. and it's clearly has decided that these allegations are untrue . are untrue. >> and now mr spacey has

suffered the most immense period of stress. >> he will have had to pay vast sums of money in defending himself and the stain on his character is going to still be online. however hard his lawyers will try to get rid of it. and i've done this many times for clients. not easy to clear all this off. as to his question whether there's any recourse , whether there's any recourse, well, it's very difficult , well, it's very difficult, jonathan, whilst you're jonathan , one second, we'll come back to you, but we've got some live shots now at southwark crown court as kevin spacey, if you just joined us, you may not have heard the news, but kevin spacey has found guilty of all has been found not guilty of all the charges that were brought against him. >> these were, i think, some nine offences brought by 4—4 men against him. but he's been found not guilty. we've got some live shots now so we can see kevin spacey in the background. he's there with what i presume is possibly his lawyer. i hear from pip that it's his 64th birthday today. so hopefully he will be

celebrating of sorts . but this celebrating of sorts. but this has been a case that has taken a huge toll on him as it would anyone and in particular, the allegations which were against him those that are some him were those that are some which really aren't seen in a good light at all. even if you are found not guilty of this, this could have a stain your this could have a stain on your career and spacey career. and kevin spacey has suffered. lost money. he's suffered. he's lost money. he's lost cost him lost jobs. it's cost him a fortune to go through this legal wrangle that he's been through. let's bring jonathan back in again. he's a media lawyer. jonathan i'm just sort of following the what you were saying with regard to it costing him a fortune. i'm wondering, do you think kevin spacey you think that kevin spacey should looking to should consider now looking to potentially sue or find some charges against the people who brought these allegations to him in the first place, seeing as he's guilty ? he's been found not guilty? >> well, it goes on and on because he's been written out of movies as well. so he's not only lost financial , but, course, lost financial, but, of course, you presence on screen you know, his presence on screen is gone . it is very, very is gone. it is very, very difficult for him that the law for under standable reasons

gives enormous amount of protection to those that make allegations of sexual misconduct . but it's absolutely understandable why that's done . understandable why that's done. the problem is that in situations like this, it creates the most immense injustice for mr spacey . now, mr spacey will mr spacey. now, mr spacey will no , it won't. none of these no, it won't. none of these names of the four accusers will be will be published , even be will be published, even though the court has found that they've lied, as i understand that the finding of the jury, the finding of the judge there is no recourse against him. almost certainly because these allegations are protected from, let's say, a defamation claim by what we call absolute privilege. any any statement that you make to a court in the context of a legal trial is protected by what we call absolute privilege. and again, that makes complete sense. so there isn't a viable claim . but i think there's one claim. but i think there's one other important point to make, and i'm sorry if it's already been made , but always in these been made, but always in these situations options. so again ,

situations options. so again, i've acted for celebrities and similar situations. what was always going to come after a guilty verdict within days would have been series of claim letters from all those who are his accusers. demand vast sums by way of damages . so although by way of damages. so although his name has been permanently scarred or he has been found not guilty emphatically here, and he's also been saved from a from a raft of civil litigation bringing damages claims against him, which he would have to defend. i'm going to have to stop you because we've live stop you because we've got live pictures spacey pictures now of kevin spacey coming of now. coming out of court now. >> he's coming out of southwark crown is kevin crown court there is kevin spacey. he's meeting the journalists. about journalists. he's he's about to have a press conference with them . i imagine that many of you them. i imagine that many of you can understand that . can understand that. >> there's a lot for me to process after what has just happened today. process after what has just happened today . but i would like

happened today. but i would like to say that i'm enormously grateful to the jury for having taken the time to examine all of the evidence and all of the facts carefully before they reach their decision . and i am reach their decision. and i am humbled by the outcome today. thank you. i also want to thank the staff inside this courthouse. the security and all those who took care of us every single day . my legal team , evan single day. my legal team, evan lowenstein and lucy , for being lowenstein and lucy, for being here every day . and that's all i here every day. and that's all i have to say for the moment. thank you very much. that was, of course, kevin spacey speaking live outside southwark crown court after being found not guilty on all charges. >> he said he was humbled by the verdict that the jury found and he thanked his staff for what has obviously been a very harrowing time him. joining harrowing time for him. joining

me is pip tomson. she's a gb me now is pip tomson. she's a gb news presenter and she was on earlier pip. so there it is. it's all of this has culminated in such in a not guilty verdict. but apparently as we sit here, as we hear, it's not even over there. a then because a series of letters, which is what of claim letters, which is what media lawyerjonathan is media lawyerjonathan coates is saying . saying will follow. >> yes, absolutely. if you >> yes, absolutely. and if you were just looking at those pictures, there of kevin spacey, i don't know what thought, i don't know what you thought, nana, looked nana, but i thought he looked absolutely and absolutely shell shocked. and yeah, shocked, yeah, absolutely. shell shocked, you unable really to you know, unable really to overcome with so much emotion that he was unable to really speak for very long, apart from, you , thanking his legal you know, thanking his legal team and saying that he was enormously grateful to the jury. this isn't the end of the story because as so many questions now about can he rebuild his career, will hollywood welcome him back ? i mean, he would hope so because he has got big legal bills to pay. we do understand that he had to sell his is his

house in la in the light of these allegations . and he also these allegations. and he also has a flat in westminster. that's where he was living dunng that's where he was living during the course of this four week trial. but he has actually told the court over the last few days, i have no money coming in. ihave days, i have no money coming in. i have a lot of legal bills and i have a lot of legal bills and i still owe money. >> it's just so unfair, especially when you're found not guilty and as paul duddridge pointed out, there's a big civil case hanging over his head because of reputation damage for one of the movies that he was not was taken out of because it damaged the movie and because of the allegations that were brought earlier . and brought forward earlier. and this something that's been this is something that's been going so going on in the states. so there's a potential £25 million lawsuit that's hanging over him as well. >> that's the house cards >> that's the house of cards netflix smash, wasn't it ? and we netflix smash, wasn't it? and we have actually reached out to netflix for a comment on that. they actually come back they haven't actually come back to us just yet. but will to us just yet. but we will bnng to us just yet. but we will bring that. bring you that. >> well, get to >> okay. well, let's get back to jonathan he's media jonathan coates. he's our media lawyer and just get his reaction

to kevin spacey. jonathan so there he was. kevin spacey. absolutely looked exhausted through what he's been through . through what he's been through. but end. it's not but this isn't the end. it's not over. >> oven >> well, i've sat with clients many times in a trial >> well, i've sat with clients many times in atrial, and it is many times in a trial, and it is it's impossible to describe how stressful it is . and of course, stressful it is. and of course, he will have been brutally cross—exam and he will have sat and listened to a whole series of allegations against him, which knows aren't true. but which he knows aren't true. but he'll be splashed all over he'll now be splashed all over the newspapers . there are few the newspapers. there are few things traumatic . i should things more traumatic. i should make clear, and i'm so sorry make it clear, and i'm so sorry if i didn't if he'd been found guilty, there would then have been a whole series of claim letters against him. the fact that he's been found not guilty, hopefully means that they will not. he will not get claim letters. the difference in a civil claim is that you only have to prove the allegations on the balance of probabilities in a criminal process. it has to be beyond reasonable doubt . now, it beyond reasonable doubt. now, it would still be open to those who've made allegations to bring

claims against him . my hope and claims against him. my hope and expectation is that the any lawyer who would be minded to do it and they would obviously want to do it on a no win, no fee bafis to do it on a no win, no fee basis will assume that in the light of these not guilty verdicts, then it's not it's not a claim worth bringing. so i very much hope he'll be spared the civil process. >> yeah , i see. i hear you. so >> yeah, i see. i hear you. so potentially claim letters via the civil courts , but no win , no the civil courts, but no win, no fee. lawyers are unlikely to touch it. seeing as we've been found not guilty. and usually people who are making these kind of allegations would choose that kind they kind of lawyer because they don't any costs don't have to fork out any costs just it goes wrong. just in case it goes wrong. i hear you . so, so, now now, in hear you. so, so, so now now, in terms of reputation and damage , terms of reputation and damage, kevin spacey has lost a lot. he's still got legal bills to pay- he's still got legal bills to pay. i mean, as an estimate, how much do you think in terms of legal fees would do you think he might be looking at? well, a full trial with a top team of solicitors and top barristers at

1 to £2 million, at least . 1 to £2 million, at least. >> wow . and of course, i mean, >> wow. and of course, i mean, you know, he's been cancelled. this is the this is the dreadful thing. he's been cancelled by the whole film industry . so, you the whole film industry. so, you know, he's he's effectively at the moment not without any means of earning a living and query where anyone will have him back because although he's been found not guilty by the jury, the key thing for film executives is whether the public will now accept him back as someone who's accept him back as someone who's a top working star and who knows whether they will or they won't , i very much hope they will. but his his his career may have suffered irreparable damage through all this . through all this. >> well, listen, jonathan, thank you very much for joining us. that's jonathan cote. he's a media lawyer. good to get your take . and now film critic take on it. and now film critic and podcaster van conner joins me . van conner, thank you me now. van conner, thank you very much for joining me now. van conner, thank you very much forjoining me. let's he's on his way. if you just

joined us, welcome board, by the way, you may have heard the news. kevin spacey has been found all counts. found not guilty on all counts. well, jonathan jonathan code, the saying the media lawyer was saying whether hollywood and the whether or not hollywood and the industry around it would accept kevin spacey back , even though kevin spacey back, even though he's been found not guilty . in he's been found not guilty. in your view, do you think that thatis your view, do you think that that is a likelihood that he'll be accepted again and be allowed to continue ? to continue? >> this could go either way. >> this could go either way. >> in this instance ? >> in this instance? >> in this instance? >> in this instance? >> i mean, in recent years, we've seen for instance, louis ck. staged something of a c.k. staged something of a comeback in louis ck. case. it was, you know, in the face of allegations to which he freely admitted, you know, having having committed those acts. and yet he seems to have rebuilt his reputation and not only that, won a grammy for it. reputation and not only that, won a grammy for it . so given won a grammy for it. so given the of spacey's fame, his the height of spacey's fame, his reputation , his status prior to reputation, his status prior to 2018, i would say there's a good chance he can stage a pretty successful comeback after this . successful comeback after this. >> but sometimes when it comes to sort of sexual type allegations, seem to stick allegations, those seem to stick allegations, those seem to stick a little more even when you're

found not guilty . do you think found not guilty. do you think then because obviously he's going to have to make some money after everything that's gone on, he's obviously in your he's he's obviously in your view, then what would you be doing if you were kevin spacey as your first now having as your first move, now having been not guilty? been found not guilty? >> , spacey himself has >> i mean, spacey himself has already found an avenue. i mean, he has actually been working in the past couple of years. he took a film as recently as took on a film as recently as last year called who last year called the man who drew which was directed drew god, which was directed by and franco nero and starred franco nero alongside faye dunaway . there alongside faye dunaway. there was a lot of controversy around the project at the because the project at the time because of status at that of spacey's status at that moment, but he is still a draw overseas. he still he still has international clout with audiences, even things as critically derided as billionaire boys club, which is a film absolutely tanked by all of this. back in 2018. i mean, that film dropped when all of this began in 2018, even that still made some money overseas , still made some money overseas, even though it spectacularly bombed in west end. bombed in the west end. >> what do you think with regard to social media as well? because

one of the things that was pointed this was more pointed out was this was more a trial you as trial of social media. you as a podcast or use social media. podcast or you use social media. obviously for your business. do you that perhaps you think that perhaps the governments to look at the governments need to look at the way social media is being used and there should be any sort of any sort of kind of way of sort of mandating a proper sort of way of structuring it so that people cannot be tried by social media in this way. >> well, in a perfect world, that would absolutely be the case. but social media just is inherently pandora's box, inherently a pandora's box, particularly industry and also entertainment industry and also politics. we've seen, politics. as we've seen, criminal activity. and this is obviously a confluence of all of those things as far as as spacey himself goes with social media, he has attempted to steer the narrative in the past couple of years in, to be honest, what we've described as quite bizarre episodes in which he was producing like christmas messages as in character in the in the guise of the house of cards, frank underwood character in which he sort of seemed to be performing a speech about his

own innocence. but there was no context ever provided for it. it left everyone scratching their heads a little bit. so he seems to want to take control of the social media narrative himself. but he doesn't seem to be the wisest on how to go about it . as wisest on how to go about it. as far as the actual governmental side of it, that is, that's a level i couldn't even begin to speculate on. that goes way beyond my remit. >> it seems that they need >> yeah, it seems that they need to sort get together and work to sort of get together and work something out because these, these businesses global. something out because these, thesecrossiesses global. something out because these, thesecross all.es global. something out because these, thesecross all over global. something out because these, thesecross all over different they cross all over different countries with different legal rules and regulations which make it very difficult. so in your view then, kevin spacey , do you view then, kevin spacey, do you think that this will be this this will actually be a real turning point for his career? and actually, he is going to make more out of this do make more out of this and do better it , better as a result of it, whether or not he'll do better, i that one could go either way. >> i think we've not seen the last of him. he's he's back and he'll back in a relatively he'll be back in a relatively short space of time. he will be back in starring roles . kevin back in starring roles. kevin spacey prior to all of this, was

one of the most respected thespian of the last three decades. like hands down easily, the man owned the 1990s. i mean, he tailed off a little bit as we went into the 21st century, but he owned the 1990s. you know, it was acclaimed oscar calibre was a acclaimed oscar calibre actor where he's starred in everything from , you know, high everything from, you know, high budget tentpole productions playing things like lex luther in superman movies to, you know, acclaimed prestige drama starring along starring in equal measure, you know, starring alongside characters like superman fellow superman and thespian, fellow thesps judi dench . and you thesps like judi dench. and you look at the names and the stories and the talent that came, came during came, you know, came out during the we're the trial alone. and we're talking jared talking about richard and jared harris talking about elton john, judi mean , elton john judi dench. i mean, elton john was called as a as a character witness. has a support witness. this man has a support base. will be you know, he base. he will be you know, he will he i will continue. he will. i actually think he will be bigger, be honest. think bigger, to be honest. i think his friends rally around his friends will rally around him. he come him. and i think he will come back stronger. >> he will as well. >> i think he will as well. what's what's what's your what's your favourite spacey movie or favourite kevin spacey movie or your favourite character that he played? one is, played? i know what my one is, but what's yours ?

but what's what's yours? >> mean, the conventional >> i mean, the conventional answer is john doe in seven obviously. but my personal favourite is as chris robin in the forgotten f gary grey 1998 hostage thriller the negotiator , which i absolutely love. he and samuel ljackson worked brilliantly off one another. yeah he's a great new samuel jackson. >> crikey i love him as as lex luther in superman returns. that's got to be my favourite one. kevin spacey, a brilliant actor, has been cleared on all counts. thank you very much. good talk you. is, of good to talk to you. that is, of course, van conner. he is course, via van conner. he is a film critic and a podcaster. so if you're just tuned in, this is gb news on tv, online gb news live on tv, online and on radio. we have been on digital radio. we have been discussing kevin spacey, who's been found not guilty on all counts. and which is good news for him is, of course, his birthday as well . listen, stay birthday as well. listen, stay tuned. we've got loads more still to come here on gb news gb news presenter pip johnson. also joins me to discuss and remember the huge breaking news. oscar winning actor kevin spacey has been found not guilty of nine

sex offences, is following a trial at southwark crown court . trial at southwark crown court. stay with us. keep your thoughts and messages coming in. views and messages coming in. gb views at .com or tweet me at at gb views .com or tweet me at gb news news. we're live on tv onune gb news news. we're live on tv online and on digital radio. i'm nana akua . this is gb news. nana akua. this is gb news. britain's news channel. a brighter outlook with boxt solar >> proud sponsors of weather on . gb news. afternoon >> i'm alex deakin and this is your latest weather update from the met office for gb news. the cloud is spilling in. it's already turned pretty soggy in the west and more rain to spread in for most of us overnight. the breeze is also picking up to the west increasingly west and increasingly windy weather area of low weather from this area of low pressure and these weather fronts in fronts have been chugging in throughout already throughout the day already turning things wet across wales and northern western and northern ireland, western parts in the east, parts of england in the east, still dry and bright into this evening. but even here, the rain gets the evening. gets in through the evening. northern may stay dry northern scotland may stay dry until around midnight. it will turn a little drier over northern parts of wales

northern ireland. parts of wales through but for most through the night. but for most it's dank, murky , damp it's a dank, misty, murky, damp and drizzly night. but it will be warm, warmer than last night for sure. temperatures staying in the mid teens, quite a humid feel then first thing on thursday drab old thursday morning, a drab old start. outbreaks of rain in many places, some heavier bursts likely across parts of scotland, although the northern isles may well dry and bright and well stay dry and bright and elsewhere. it'll elsewhere. actually, it'll brighten up bit through brighten up a little bit through the south likely the day. the south coast likely to stay pretty murky. there'll be showers elsewhere , but be a few showers elsewhere, but a sunshine could see a bit of sunshine could see temperatures in the east getting into possibly . we into the mid 20s, possibly. we could spark some heavy could also then spark some heavy showers through the afternoon . showers through the afternoon. now, friday looks brighter for most and drier. not completely dry. they'll still be a sprinkling of showers around, particularly coming into northern ireland later in the day . but elsewhere, some sunny day. but elsewhere, some sunny spells temperatures getting spells and temperatures getting into teens low 20s into the high teens and low 20s . plenty more showers, . expect plenty more showers, though, weekend . though, once more this weekend. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar proud sponsors of weather

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gb news. >> good afternoon. it's just coming up to 4:00. i'm nana akua in for patrick christie . coming in for patrick christie. coming up houn in for patrick christie. coming up hour, we'll be up in this hour, we'll be discussing the breaking news. kevin been found not kevin spacey has been found not guilty on all counts. we'll be

delving into that more deeply then looking at debunking the debunking scandal rumbles on. dame alison rose, she's resigned, but should she be the only one to go? shouldn't the others go as well? like the head of coots ? after all, it's under of coots? after all, it's under his watch . and then stay tuned his watch. and then stay tuned because will discussing the because we will discussing the holidays the hell holidays from hell. the hell that is. of course, if you're there on the islands of rhodes or other greek or some of the other greek islands fires are islands where these fires are raging on, and in fact, they're going to on door going to on next door in countries well around europe. countries as well around europe. we'll looking into how why we'll be looking into how why these caused . and these fires were caused. and then a very prestigious university, king's college london, are in the midst of a race drought. why? because they're banning white lecturers from tai chi classes, because apparently any black people or people of ethnic minorities are now the global majority. we'll discuss that in a couple of moments. time and there's so much to talk about. well,

listen, as ever, send me your thoughts, gb news at gb views gbviews@gbnews.com or you can tweet us at gb news. but next up, it's polly middlehurst with your latest news headlines as . your latest news headlines as. nana >> thank you. will the breaking news this hour from the newsroom is that kevin spacey , the is that kevin spacey, the hollywood actor, he's hollywood actor, says he's grateful to the jury and humbled after being found not guilty of sexually assaulting four men between 2001 and 2013. >> appearing outside southwark crown court. >> kevin spacey addressed the media following today's verdict. >> the crown prosecution service says prosecutors respect the decision of the court. the 64 year old oscar winning actor had tears in his eyes as a jury cleared him of the sex offences. i imagine that many of you can understand that there's a lot for me to process after what has just happened today , but i would

just happened today, but i would like to say that i'm enormously grateful to the jury for having taken the time . to examine all taken the time. to examine all of the evidence and all of the facts carefully before they reach their decision . reach their decision. >> and i am humbled by the outcome today . outcome today. >> kevin spacey speaking earlier on today. well, the other main news today on gb news is that the former ceo of natwest is no longer a member of the prime minister's business council . minister's business council. dame alison rose has also resigned from her roles as co—chair of the energy efficiency taskforce and as a member of the net zero council. after being asked to step down by the secretary of state. that's after ms rose admitted she discussed nigel farage's relationship with the bank cuts with a bbc journalist . with a bbc journalist. firefighters are continuing to tackle wildfires circling the mediterranean, claiming the lives so far of more than 40

people around 3000 holidaymakers have fled the island of rhodes. temperatures there are set to exceed 45 c, a major heatwave is sweeping across southern europe and north africa, where at least 34 people have died in southern italy, around 2000 people have had to be evacuated from hotels in a popular tourist destination as fire raged close by. blazes have also broken out in other parts of southern europe, including portugal, gran canaria, southern france and even as far east as syria and as far south as tunisia. in north africa , the prime minister was africa, the prime minister was met with jeers and heckling today as he defended the government's response to the infected blood scandal whilst giving evidence to the infected blood inquiry. rishi sunak said he didn't personally see a letter in 2020 preparing for the possibility of paying compensation to victims over three years and still no

concrete compensation framework in sight. >> and no information about that . what it might look like . is . what it might look like. is that good enough ? that good enough? >> i think what i'd say is, of course people want to . see so course people want to. see so all i'd say is in order for the government to make decisions on compensation , it is rightly has compensation, it is rightly has asked an independent inquiry. now the owner of tottenham hotspur football club has surrendered to the us authorities in manhattan after being charged over an alleged inside spider trading scheme . inside spider trading scheme. >> 86 year old british billionaire joe louis is accused of abusing his access to corporate boardrooms and providing inside information to others who then allegedly made millions of dollars on the stock market. a tottenham club spokesperson says it's a legal matter. uncle connected with the club . one person has been killed

club. one person has been killed and several more have been injured after a major fire on a cargo ship in the north sea off the coast of the netherlands . a the coast of the netherlands. a major rescue operation has been carried out on the ship, which is carrying 3000 vehicles. a helicopter airlifted the 22 remaining crew from the burning ship. they're all being treated for breathing issues, burns and broken bones. the ship had been on its way from germany to egypt when it caught fire spreading so quickly that several crew members were forced to jump overboard . junior doctors in overboard. junior doctors in england have announced a four day walkout next month in a dispute over pay. the strikes are taking place from the 11th to the 15th of august in the next round of monthly strike action from the bma . the union action from the bma. the union says not for the prime says it's not for the prime minister to decide that negotiations are over before minister to decide that negoeven ns are over before minister to decide that negoeven steppedyer before minister to decide that negoeven stepped into efore minister to decide that negoeven stepped into the; minister to decide that negoeven stepped into the room he's even stepped into the room and the dispute will only end, they say, at the negotiating table and a consultation on train ticket office closures was due to end today. that though,

has been extended to the 1st of september. train operators unveiled proposals earlier this month for multiple closures of the offices after the transport secretary mark harper, urged them to cut costs . the plans are them to cut costs. the plans are being criticised by groups representing passengers and the rmt. that's your latest news update. you are up to date on tv, online and on the tune in app. more news as it happens. back now to nana akua . back now to nana akua. >> good afternoon. thank you, polly. it's just coming up to seven minutes after 4:00. this is gb news. we are the people's channel and we start with this afternoon's huge breaking news. the hollywood star, kevin spacey has been found not guilty of all charges in his trial for sexual assault. gb news national reporter paul hawkins looks at the background to the case winning sir , another high

winning sir, another high profile individual abusing their power or an innocent man wrongly accused . accused. >> the trial of kevin spacey was always going to generate huge media interest. the crown prosecutor service has authorised four charges of sexual assault against hollywood actor kevin spacey relating to three men. >> the hollywood actor kevin spacey has been charged by the crown prosecution service with a further seven sex offences by the end of the trial. >> spacey faced nine counts of sexual offence allegations by four different men from 2001 to 2013. it was at this west end theatre during a charity event in 2005 that one of those men said spacey grabbed him by his private parts and made lewd comments about him. the man later telling police it was like a cobra. but the hollywood actor said the man made his entire story up from beginning to end. describe the prosecution case as weak during the trial. spacey called himself a big flirt.

weak during the trial. spacey called himself a big flirt . the called himself a big flirt. the prosecution said he was a sexual bully . another man claimed bully. another man claimed spacey drugged him and he woke up in the actor's flat to find the oscar winner performing a sex act on him. the hollywood actor denied drugging him and said it was a consensual sexual experience and romantic situation . in central to the situation. in central to the prosecution's case was that he used his power and status to carry out the assaults , as many carry out the assaults, as many of them included allegations that he grabbed, squeezed and touched his four victims, genitals and buttocks over their clothing between 2005 and 2013, mostly during his time as artistic director at the old vic theatre , one accuser claimed theatre, one accuser claimed spacey grabbed his genitals on their way to a ball at elton john's house in 2002. but giving evidence, the singer said the actor attended the white tie and tiara event in 2001. the only year he could remember him attending . attending. >> grateful to our fans during the trial, the jury had claim and counterclaim.

>> although spacey admitted he got the signals wrong with one accuser, but also described a sexual encounter with another as a romantic situation . he said he a romantic situation. he said he was lonely at times and found it hard to trust people because of his fame . before this trial, his fame. before this trial, there had already been multiple allegations in the united states by men and women , some leading by men and women, some leading to private prosecutions about spacey's behaviour allegations he's always denied and private lawsuits. he successful , fully lawsuits. he successful, fully defended. but the damage to his 40 year career has been considerable. the tv and film projects dried up. >> you know , i happen to believe >> you know, i happen to believe that we get what we deserve. netflix dropped him from the hit show house of cards, successfully suing him for costs incurred totalling $31 million . incurred totalling $31 million. >> spacey still has two films, including a british political thriller slated for release this yean thriller slated for release this year. but now that he's been acquitted, the question is whether he can rebuild his career to its previous stature. paul hawkins. gb news, what do

you think? >> i think he probably can actually, with all the publicity he's received. but let's speak actually, with all the publicity he oureceived. but let's speak actually, with all the publicity he our nationaliut let's speak actually, with all the publicity he our national reporterspeak actually, with all the publicity he our national reporter theo to our national reporter theo chikomba, outside southern chikomba, who's outside southern crown court. so, theo, talk us through happened during through what happened during that proceedings, because that those proceedings, because you would have heard what happened. talk through . happened. so talk us through. yes of course. well, in the last couple of weeks, it's a story that's garnered huge interest not only from members of the public, but, of course, the press from this country and, of course, we've seen course, abroad. we've seen publications such as new publications such as the new york who have been here york post who have been here dunng york post who have been here during trial . during the trial. >> but today, though, mr spacey was cleared of nine counts here at southwark crown court and he's found not guilty of committing sexual sexual offences against four men in the uk between 2001 and 2013. >> today is his birthday to 64th birthday and during the last few weeks, undoubtedly he's been coming here with his team to hear evidence from those four

gentlemen. but also, of course, to give his evidence and of course, from those who also know him now, today , he nodded at the him now, today, he nodded at the jurors as they left court this afternoon, crying and wiping his face with a tissue before a big sigh and thanking staff as well. here at southwark crown court. just a few moments ago, he spoke to members of the press . the to members of the press. the jury to members of the press. the jury and he was very emotional. >> i imagine that many of you can understand that there's a lot for me to process after what has just happened today. >> but i would like to say that i'm enormously grateful to the jury i'm enormously grateful to the jury for having taken the time to examine all of the evidence and all of the facts as carefully before they reached their decision . and i am humbled their decision. and i am humbled by the outcome today. thank you.

i also want to thank the staff inside this courthouse , the inside this courthouse, the security and all those who took care of us every single day . my care of us every single day. my legal team , evan lowenstein and legal team, evan lowenstein and lucy , for being here every day . lucy, for being here every day. and that's all i have to say for the moment. thank you very much. rain rain on you . rain rain on you. >> well, kevin's spacey was the artistic director at the old vic theatre in london between 2004 and 2015. >> he was accused of drugging and performing a sex act on a former aspiring actor whilst he slept and several assaults on another man who was a driver who claim the actor grabbed him by the private parts so hard on one occasion that he almost came off the road. another man claimed that the hollywood actor subjected him to a barrage of vile sexual abuse before grabbing his crotch like a cobra. now, spacey is known for

films such as american beauty, the usual suspects and house of cards and the jury today cleared him of all the charges, and they were deliberating for 12 hours and 26 minutes. now, the judge , and 26 minutes. now, the judge, mr justice wall, said jurors must have felt like they were in a goldfish bowl because of the level of interest in this case. now, of course , his defence had now, of course, his defence had labelled the prosecution case against him as weak , accusing against him as weak, accusing some of the complainants of being after money. and of course, we've known from this afternoon that he's been cleared of all of those nine counts here at southwark crown court. well, cynthia, thank you very much. that's theo chikomba us outside southwark crown court, giving us an update on what happened, the proceedings, , if proceedings, and of course, if you've just tuned in, welcome on board. up to 14 board. it's coming up to 14 minutes the big minutes after 4:00. the big news, spacey been news, kevin spacey has been found not guilty on counts. found not guilty on all counts. we can now get the thoughts of hollywood reporter sam rubin. sam, thank you very for sam, thank you very much for

joining sam what's your joining me. sam what's your thoughts on this then? kevin spacey guilty all counts i >>i -- >> i tell you what, given the coverage of the trial and the testimony against kevin spacey, i think some people view that verdict as a bit of a surprise. the big question here, as framed by your reporter in front of the court, spacey resume court, can kevin spacey resume what was an extraordinary what once was an extraordinary hollywood career? there's no denying his considerable talent, but he has been so muddied by charges both in america and, of course, in london. it's an open question to me as to whether he can resume a career and anyone would hire him to participate in movies or television shows . i movies or television shows. i think people here in hollywood obviously the verdict less than an hour old, are still digesting that news. so it's difficult to render an immediate professional verdict. but that's the question . i mean, these charges were so negative, the testimony was so bad , and the fact that the jury bad, and the fact that the jury has, in effect, dismissed it

obviously helps kevin spacey. but hollywood sometimes forgives and forgets and sometimes it does not, because johnny depp's seems to have come out of his case. >> okay. so kevin spacey, i, i suspect he might they might forgive him and forget about him in terms of what has happened . in terms of what has happened. do you think then moving forward that there should be some sort of because this was a trial by social media? pretty much. do you think there should be some something that governments need to how some something that governments need to these how some something that governments need to these social how some something that governments need to these social media ow some something that governments need to these social media firmsme something that governments need to these social media firms or�* of these social media firms or how people are able to make up such allegations or say things on social and affect an on social media and affect an outcome like this, when in the end someone like kevin spacey is found guilty ? well, i think found not guilty? well, i think there's a mixed bag here. >> obviously, social media plays a kevin spacey's own a part. kevin spacey's own behaviour plays a part, and the fact that kevin spacey has a particular reputation , i don't particular reputation, i don't think that reputation just comes out of thin air. kevin spacey himself describing himself as, quote, a flirt , many people quote, a flirt, many people describing very aggressive

sexual behaviour if it's illegal or not, is another matter. so i think kevin spacey left himself open to this kind of thing. the fact that it became as extreme as it did, our understanding here is he could have faced life behind bars . here is he could have faced life behind bars. i mean, that that that in part is kevin spacey's own fault . own fault. >> mm. interesting stuff. well, listen , thank you very much for listen, thank you very much for joining me. really good to talk to rubin, he's a to you. sam rubin, he's a hollywood reporter. let's go to our showbiz reporter, ellie philips , who joins me now. philips, who joins me now. ellie, good to see you. nice to talk to you on this on this momentous occasion . kevin spacey momentous occasion. kevin spacey is his 64th birthday as well, which is a way to celebrate a birthday. but he's found not guilty counts. i asked guilty on all counts. i asked sam rubin whether he thought this have impact on this would have an impact on kevin spacey's career moving this would have an impact on kevin sp now�*s career moving this would have an impact on kevin sp now he's'eer moving this would have an impact on kevin sp now he's been|oving this would have an impact on kevin sp now he's been found not forward. now he's been found not guilty, in your view , do you guilty, in your view, do you think spacey can think kevin spacey can make a make after after make a go of this after after all of this? yeah i do. >> i mean, you've got to realise that despite everything that was going on throughout this, he was still technically working, not

compared to how he did in the past. and he's huge, big budget films and productions. but he was in a small independent italian film which got released in november , and he's previously in november, and he's previously said that there were producers who were ready to work with him and hire him as soon as he's cleared of these charges in london. he's his his his london. so he's his his his thoughts and his ideas and his his focus now is clearly on getting back to work and wanting to do that. and we've got to remember, he is a film nominal actor and when he was dropped from house of cards and they produced one more season without him, it didn't do as well as the others. kind lost others. it was kind of lost without him, unfortunately, because in it. because he was brilliant in it. so a lot of producers so i think a lot of producers are really wanting are going to be really wanting to get him back in front of the camera because now he's been found innocent. technically, there's no reason . there's no there's no reason. there's no legal they can't legal reason that they can't hire him. the thing that's hire him. the only thing that's ever happened is arbitration. ever happened is an arbitration. he forced to pay $31 he was he was forced to pay $31 million to the company that made house of cards because of

because of the allegations , because of the allegations, because, you know, it led to losses for them, because they had to they felt they had to sack him. and there was, you know, within the company know, rumours within the company of misconduct that he did there. but legally , in terms of but legally, in terms of criminal charges, there is nothing against him. and, you know , and this is all been going nothing against him. and, you kn

someone break them someone who can break them through everyone will through is him and everyone will be looking what he does be looking to see what he does next. so that could play, you know, a positive thing for an know, as a positive thing for an independent film to get him involved and hopefully involved with and hopefully see him big screen. yeah him back on the big screen. yeah i can imagine. >> he'll quite draw for >> he'll be quite a draw for some independent film producer who attention who wants to get some attention to as he is an incredible to a film as he is an incredible actor. your favourite, kevin spacey film or character ? what? spacey film or character? what? which one would you say for me, it's got to be frank underwood um, in house of cards. >> i absolutely loved it. i was just engrossed with the whole thing . he was just so cold, thing. he was just so cold, calculating and clever and. and he played it so well. and he did these cuts to camera. um oh, it was just genius. these cuts to camera. um oh, it was just genius . and he has been was just genius. and he has been missed on screen. if you think about his backlog of work. but for me, even though it's not a film, that's the one i love. >> well, ellie phillips always a pleasure. thank you very much. that's ellie phillips. she's a showbiz reporter. this is gb news. can get loads more on news. you can get loads more on that on our website . and that story on our website. and get cbnnews.com is the

get this from cbnnews.com is the fastest growing national news website in the country . it's got website in the country. it's got the best analysis and opinion as well as the latest breaking news. so stay tuned to gb news on tv, online and on digital radio. coming up to 21 minutes after 4:00 and moving on to state of emergency has been declared greek island of declared on the greek island of rhodes as wildfires continue to rage . that will be discussed rage. that will be discussed next. akua . this is gb next. i'm nana akua. this is gb news. britain's

gbnews.com on tv, radio and onune gbnews.com on tv, radio and online gb news. >> britain's news .

online gb news. >> britain's news. channel crikey, it's all go , isn't it? crikey, it's all go, isn't it? >> listen, welcome back . i'm >> listen, welcome back. i'm nana akua. this is gb news. in a few minutes, i'll have the latest on the natwest banking scandal after the ceo, the group ceo, dame alison rose, resigned in disgrace case and find out why there's a racism row at one of the best universities in the world. but right now we're discussing the state of emergency that's been declared on the islands of rhodes. on the greek islands of rhodes. as continue to rage as wildfires continue to rage out of control , authorities have out of control, authorities have warned that six new regions in greece are now facing extreme danger from wildfires. and in the past 24 hours, firefighters have been tackling at least 53 outbreaks on roads alone , an outbreaks on roads alone, an with thousands being evacuated from homes and hotels. it's not just greece, though, that's being affected . gb news viewers being affected. gb news viewers can see fires burning around the city of palermo on sicily, parts of which have been devastated.

meanwhile a blaze near the portuguese capital of lisbon has been brought under control, but the authorities will remain in a mountainous area of cascais, 20 miles west of the city in case of the fire reignites. now, the risk alert has also been raised to extreme for mallorca and for high ibiza and menorca, adding to the challenges for tour operators and holiday companies. so let's cross to rhodes now and join our reporter , paul hawkins. join our reporter, paul hawkins. so paul, you're there. it seems as though it doesn't seem as bad as though it doesn't seem as bad as it was yesterday , but i mean, as it was yesterday, but i mean, that's just me looking at where you are. you moved further you are. have you moved further away? or are you closer away? are you or are you closer into where where issues are ? >> 7- >> yeah, 7_ >> yeah, we've ? >> yeah, we've been 7 >> yeah, we've been following the fires all day, nana, and we've been seeing firsthand the effect that the fires have had, the fires that reach the coastline that were then fought back by the volunteer firefighters, by the official firefighters, by the official firefighters themselves . and firefighters themselves. and frankly, this is what has been left where the fires have been. it's scorched earth as far as

you can see from where we are. we're in the southern part of the country, which that's the bit that's affected, frankly . bit that's affected, frankly. it's sort of somewhere between 10 and 20% and sporadically , 10 and 20% and sporadically, there are outbreaks of fires . there are outbreaks of fires. and the key thing to note here, the temperature is going to drop to the low 30s in the next few days. but the key thing to note is the wind. and this morning there wind . obviously, there was no wind. obviously, that's thing when you're that's a good thing when you're fighting when fighting firefighters, when you're fires. i should you're fighting fires. i should say. picked up as the say. but that's picked up as the days worn on. and column of days worn on. and the column of smoke distance over smoke in the distance over there. it's dispersed and now it's spread our way and it's starting to fan towards the starting to fan back towards the coast , which suggests that any coast, which suggests that any fires raging , there are fires that are raging, there are some just over those some raging just over over those hills potentially hills. they could potentially spread this way. so they're spread back this way. so they're worried here about fires spontaneously reigniting. all it takes is an ember. we were by the side of the road earlier. a fire just sprung up out of out of nowhere, really, because of its members that were burning suddenly the emergency services rushed in and the volunteer, the volunteers had to cut away a lot

of the vegetation to stop the fire spreading. and so we've been kind of monitoring that activity all day. we saw a supermarket earlier. they've experienced £200,000 worth of damage . and we've we've been to damage. and we've we've been to the beach . we've seen empty , the beach. we've seen empty, empty chairs, empty deckchair cars on the beach, empty sunbeds , etcetera. very few people around this part of the island has been decimated. you go to the north, you could . and indeed the north, you could. and indeed i would say to anyone who's coming to visit rhodes and who's travelling to the the travelling to the north of the island, should have no island, you should have no problems. it's fine . they're problems. it's fine. they're really effects that really the only effects that we've seen are there are some interval irritant power outages because lot people because a lot of people evacuated here. 20,000 over evacuated from here. 20,000 over the have been taken to the weekend have been taken to the weekend have been taken to the of the island . and the top end of the island. and it's little bit more it's put a little bit more stress on the on the power networks over there. for example, had example, last night, we had trouble for our dinner trouble paying for our dinner using our card because there was less internet bandwidth. and so we had to the waiter a few goes to get it working. but in this

part of the of the island , you part of the of the island, you know, things are pretty bad for the local economy. we know that according to afp, they've quoted an airport official saying that 5000 people, mostly brits , have 5000 people, mostly brits, have flown home between saturday and today. flown home between saturday and today . and the greek government today. and the greek government warning that there is an extreme danger of fire both in this area and six of greece's 13 regions. so that's why volunteers, the local community are helping out in whatever way they can, rescuing animals , helping out rescuing animals, helping out with water supplies, helping to cut away foliage , assisting the cut away foliage, assisting the firefighters eaters, including this couple from london who we spoke to earlier . one of them, spoke to earlier. one of them, he's from a village actually just across the valley over there . he says he's never seen there. he says he's never seen anything like this. and both he and partner have been and his partner have been helping and his partner have been helyesterday , he was in a big >> yesterday, he was in a big threat and then thank god, the wind changed and the village saved . saved. >> so now it's okay. >> so now it's okay. >> but we still are on alert.

did you have to be evacuated ? did you have to be evacuated? they told us to evacuated, but no bannau. very good. >> okay. okay. and then luckily, the wind changed and the threat has gone for now. the wind changed and the threat hasyeah, for now. >> yeah, for now. >> yeah, for now. >> but people aren't >> yeah. but people aren't resting laurels. resting on their laurels. they're being they're not. they're not being complacent, did complacent, right? no. where did we so slept yesterday we sleep? so we slept yesterday in the monastery, on the floor for. >> for a few hours as a night shift. so obviously the fires, they raged during night. so they raged during the night. so we keeping an eye we were kind of keeping an eye out. and we were driving out. watch and we were driving around. few fires around. we found a few fires last which meant that last night, which meant that obviously call obviously we were able to call in services , right? but in the fire services, right? but yeah, been quite chaotic. yeah, it's been quite chaotic. it's been a lot to with the it's been a lot to do with the volunteers. we've had great we've had great support the we've had great support from the fire obviously fire service, but obviously there's many fires there's so many fires everywhere. yeah, and everywhere. so yeah, and the volunteers everywhere. so yeah, and the vollguys's everywhere. so yeah, and the vollguys that are supporting the the guys that are supporting the fire service as well. the guys that are supporting the fire yeah,:e as well. the guys that are supporting the fire yeah, yeah,vell. >> yeah, yeah, yeah. >> yeah, yeah, yeah. >> greek firefighters, they >> the greek firefighters, they are like 40 hours with no sleep. >> they are incredible. >> they are incredible. >> i feel proud to be next to them. you know , we've also heard them. you know, we've also heard that there have been two arrests. >> we haven't been able to

verify that. but we've heard from other people that there have been two arrests by the police in relation to these fires being started by arson lists. we know that that, okay, this does happen every year. there are people that want to set fires for various reasons on the island. but the thing to stress is that everyone we've spoken to here says it's never normally like this. the fires are fairly quickly extinguished. they do not run for this length of time. we're now on to what day? ten, day 11 of these fires and simply the scale of these the frequencies and the intensity of this because the intensity of this is because the temperatures are that much higher, that doesn't take higher, that it doesn't take much to really get the fire going. i spoke to one volunteer earlier said, about earlier and i said, what about the we love the tourists? he said, we love the tourists? he said, we love the tourists. we love having the tourists now tourists here. but right now it's saving people's it's about saving people's businesses. about saving businesses. it's about saving people's . and we people's homes. and then we hope to tourists back when to have the tourists back when that couldn't say. that will be. he couldn't say. >> thank you very much , paul. >> thank you very much, paul. that's paul hawkins, our national reporter. he's out there in rhodes. you'd think, why set

why would anybody want to set fire to things, especially in high temperatures? it seems ludicrous. with ludicrous. we'll continue with that there's lots that story, but there's lots more come between now more still to come between now and five. some campaigners cheered at the cheered rishi sunak at the infected blood inquiry , which infected blood inquiry, which has been the worst has been called the worst treatment disaster the treatment disaster in the history the nhs. but first, history of the nhs. but first, let's get your latest news headunes let's get your latest news headlines with polly middlehurst i >> -- >> nana, thanks very much indeed. >> will the top stories this houn >> will the top stories this hour. the hollywood actor kevin spacey says he's grateful to the jury spacey says he's grateful to the jury after being found not guilty sexually assaulting . guilty of sexually assaulting. four men between 2001 and 2013. appearing outside southwark crown court, mr spacey addressed the media following today's verdict. the crown prosecution service saying they respected the decision of the court. the 64 year old oscar winning actor shed tears as he was cleared of all allegations . all allegations. >> i imagine that many of you can understand and that there's a lot for me to process after

what has just happened today. but i would like to say that i'm enormously grateful to the jury for having taken the time to examine all of the evidence and all of the facts as carefully before they reached their decision . and i am humbled by decision. and i am humbled by the outcome today . the outcome today. >> now, the former ceo of natwest is no longer a member of the prime minister's business council, co—chair of the energy efficiency task force or a member of the net zero council. it's after dame alison rose admitted she had discussed nigel farage's relationship with the bank cuts to a bbc journalist , bank cuts to a bbc journalist, prompting her resignation as ceo. more on all those stories. head to our website , gbnews.com. head to our website, gbnews.com. next up , the weather . next up, the weather. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar. proud sponsors of weather

on . gb news afternoon. on. gb news afternoon. >> i'm alex deakin and this is your latest weather update from the met office for gb news the cloud is spilling in. it's already turned pretty soggy in the and more rain to spread the west and more rain to spread in most of us overnight. the in for most of us overnight. the breeze is also picking up to the wet and increasingly windy weather this of low weather from this area of low pressure. weather pressure. and these weather fronts have been chugging in throughout already, fronts have been chugging in throughthings already, fronts have been chugging in throughthings wet already, fronts have been chugging in throughthings wet acrosst, fronts have been chugging in throughthings wet across wales, turning things wet across wales, northern western parts northern ireland, western parts of england the east, still of england in the east, still dry bright into this dry and bright into this evening. even here, rain evening. but even here, the rain gets the evening. gets in through the evening. northern may stay dry northern scotland may stay dry until around midnight. it will turn a little drier over northern ireland, parts of wales through the night. but for most it's dank , misty, murky, damp it's a dank, misty, murky, damp and drizzly night. but it will be warm , warmer than last night be warm, warmer than last night for sure. temperatures staying in teens, quite humid in the mid teens, quite a humid feel. then first on feel. then first thing on thursday morning, a drab old start. of rain in many start. outbreaks of rain in many places, some heavier bursts likely across parts of scotland . although the northern isles

may and bright and may well stay dry and bright and elsewhere, actually, it'll brighten up a little through brighten up a little bit through the the south coast likely brighten up a little bit through th

scandal that's been that has seen dame alison rose resign in disgrace. she quit overnight after admitting that she'd made serious errors of judgement by discussing nigel farage's relationship with coots with a bbc journal list. you'd think that she maybe would think not to do that. so should the whole natwest board resign over this banking scandal? that's certainly what nigel wants to think. >> she could last beyond the end of the week. we have on friday the half yearly figures coming. there is an investor meeting at 930 that morning. so she's gone. and that's a start because the board that sanctioned this culture, a culture that talks about diversity and inclusion and actually is very divisive. and in my case, as you could clearly see, pretty poisonous stuff. i think any board member that endorsed that statement last night where they said we breached confidentiality , but breached confidentiality, but she can stay in her post, frankly , i think the whole board frankly, i think the whole board needs to go . needs to go. >> well, that's what nigel

thinks. what do you think? but if they all go, then who will be running i'm joined now running natwest? i'm joined now by andy barr, who is the ceo of ten and is a crisis ten yetis and is a crisis management specialist. well andy, they've made a bit of a pig's andy, they've made a bit of a pig's of this natwest. pig's ear of this natwest. frankly, the fact that dave anderson rose, it took so long to admit that was leak, to admit that she was the leak, even it was pretty even though it was pretty obvious it had to be her. what should natwest be doing now ? now should natwest be doing now? now in in particular of course. coutts because she's in in particular of course. coutt but because she's in in particular of course. coutt but she's because she's in in particular of course. coutt but she's onlste she's in in particular of course. coutt but she's only gonele's in in particular of course. coutt but she's only gone because gone but she's only gone because she she sort of spilled some information but the whole scenario what about the head of coutts as well. >> well i think it's a very interesting one. >> it's been a disaster from a crisis comms point of view for natwest and coutts from the very start. i don't think this is going to be the last head to roll. >> i think, i don't think the whole board and the board of directors is going to go. >> i think it's going to stop very i think that they very soon. i think that they made a mistake at the very start and we always say in crisis comms, there's golden comms, there's no golden bullet. the bullet is telling the

the golden bullet is telling the truth. know, they fudged truth. he you know, they fudged it, he was kicked out it, that he was kicked out because of his lack of wealth. and that was clearly the and that was clearly not the case. should have just case. and they should have just been honest and said, know been honest and said, you know what, his what, we don't agree with his views and we agree with views and we don't agree with his standpoints. >> therefore, we're asking >> and therefore, we're asking him bank, which , him to leave our bank, which, you as all know, banks you know, as we all know, banks have years. have done this for years. >> nothing new. have done this for years. >> it's nothing new. have done this for years. >> it's just|ing new. have done this for years. >> it's just that1ew. have done this for years. >> it's just that they've they've kind of been caught fibbing this one. fibbing about this one. >> , wasn't so from >> well, it wasn't wise. so from from a point of view of crisis management , from a point of view of crisis management, now from a point of view of crisis management , now they've done management, now they've done what not what what they've done and not what they done. what they should have done. what should do next? should they do next? >> well, they need to try and get ahead of the story. and that's why i think probably another is going to be another big name is going to be given the spanish. >> spanish archer, as we say in pr. >> so i think someone else is going to go and then i think they're going to try and hope that the of banking that the sort of banking community rally around them at the at the minute, the minute at the minute, they're a brand . they're a bit of a toxic brand. but the will be looking on but the banks will be looking on sort of shaking their heads at how handled because how it's been handled because there's other names in in there's a few other names in in there's a few other names in in the fray here. >> you've howard davis, >> you've got sir howard davis,

who's the who's responsible for the overall governance the bank. overall governance of the bank. and got peter and then you've got peter flavell, is the coutts ceo . flavell, who is the coutts ceo. would he be the right person to go one of those two? peter flavell i mean he's in charge of coutts . all of this is down coutts. all of this is down ultimately to him when the whatever hits the fan should he be the one to go next? we don't want . i mean coutts shouldn't be want. i mean coutts shouldn't be behaving surely . behaving in that manner surely. >> usually it is a big name >> well usually it is a big name at ceo level if we look back at various crisis over the years such bp , you know, it's the such as bp, you know, it's the ceo who sort of fallen on their sword and obviously they've tried to do this with this bungled overnight. you bungled messaging overnight. you know, dreaded of know, the dreaded vote of confidence , which he got. and confidence, which he got. and then obviously , even before the then obviously, even before the markets opened, even the way it was announced, was strange, usually for a listed ftse company, announce it just company, they'd announce it just before sort of 8:00, before the markets opened . but i think this markets opened. but i think this was announced around a.m, was announced around 1 am, which was, know, it which shows it was, you know, it was really from start to finish. >> well, it desperate , >> well, it was desperate, really. ironically , sir really. and ironically, sir howard davies, who is the guy who's responsible the

who's responsible for the overall of the bank, overall governance of the bank, has the board has said that the board had total in woman total confidence in this woman and eventually they got rid and then eventually they got rid of her. but they'd also doubled her so even optics her salary. so even the optics of a £52 million salary doesn't look great. and then what he had said initially when he said that we're confident in her decision, had suggested that he was going to do something to affect her bonus what people bonus is, i think, what people want . do you think want to hear. do you think they'd to do they'd be wise to perhaps do something about bonus or something about the bonus or pension something? pension or something? because this owned by this bank is largely owned by the the taxpayer . we the taxpayer. the taxpayer. we are the largest shareholder and i think, you know, surely there should be more or more for this woman messed up badly. woman is messed up so badly. >> well, i think what we want is consumers is consequences, isn't it? you know, living it? you know, we're living through tough times through some really tough times financially at the minute. every customer of natwest will be struggling to certain degree. customer of natwest will be strugljling to certain degree. customer of natwest will be strugljling tit's certain degree. customer of natwest will be strugljling tit's really] degree. customer of natwest will be strugljling tit's really hard ree. customer of natwest will be strugljling tit's really hard to�*. and i think it's really hard to see that somebody that's made, you catastrophic error you know, a catastrophic error in their job will still have bonuses in the millions being talked about. now, obviously , if talked about. now, obviously, if we'd done very well in our we'd not done very well in our job, probably out on our

job, we'd probably be out on our ear it doesn't seem right ear. so it doesn't seem right that there consequences , that there aren't consequences, you know, for people who make mistakes like this. >> and the 5.2 million, i mean , >> and the 5.2 million, i mean, come on, andy, thank you very much. good to talk to much. really good to talk to you. that's andy a you. that's andy barr. he's a crisis management specialist . crisis management specialist. moving police moving on, scotland yard police have found scotland police have found themselves in a hairy situation a backlash situation after a backlash against decision to ban against their decision to ban office from having beards, officers from having beards . i'm officers from having beards. i'm nana akua this is gb news, britain's news .

8 pm. on. gb news. >> welcome back at 5:00. there's the latest on the nigel farage banking scandal after the boss of natwest quit in disgrace. the prime minister has told the infected blood inquiry the victims of what he called an appalling scandal have suffered for decades . victims families for decades. victims families are calling for full compensation after being offered only interim payments so far. of up to £100,000. and almost 3000 people have died after developing hiv and hepatitis c from the contaminated blood in the 70s and the 80s. it's an absolute disgrace. let's get the latest from our deputy political edhon latest from our deputy political editor, tom harwood. tom can you give us an update ? give us an update? >> yes, nana it's not been an easy day for the prime minister inside the inquiry today. he's

been saying that the government will not produce its full plan on compensate for the many thousands of victims of this scandal and indeed their families. until the inquiry concludes , its entire investor concludes, its entire investor litigation. and that might not be until late autumn. the concern that the families have is that it's expected dozens more more will die in that time . um, without receiving the compensate action that many would argue they are entitled to after treatment that was provided to them by the nhs ended up infecting them with disease is like hiv and hepatitis c, it was interesting to see the prime minister did not get a particularly easy ride from the many victims who were in the audience today who perceived the prime minister to be avoiding many of the questions. let's have a listen . questions. let's have a listen. >> over three years, as an and

still no concrete compensation framework in sight and no information about that , what it information about that, what it might look like , is that good might look like, is that good enough ? enough? >>i enough? >> i think what i'd say is, of course, people want to . see and course, people want to. see and you can hear the reaction there from many in the audience with the prime minister saying what i would say. he used that phrase many times today and some people ispoke many times today and some people i spoke to who were inside the room were saying that was a device used by the prime minister to avoid answering the question . indeed, at that question. indeed, at that particular moment that we just heard, that big groan from the audience, several members of the audience, several members of the audience, victims and their family stood up and stormed out. ispoke family stood up and stormed out. i spoke to one of those who left exclusively , nancy lambert, and exclusively, nancy lambert, and this is what she had to say. >> if my dad , who passed away >> if my dad, who passed away when i was 19, in 2009. steven lambert, we're here for direct

answers and he can't do it. and that's what we need. we're we're frustrated. they're dancing around the answer. and it they just won't give us what we need. and i they haven't got respect for us. >> so i've got no respect for them. no more. ijust >> so i've got no respect for them. no more. i just i, my dad them. no more. ijust i, my dad wouldn't sit there and listen to that. so i'm going to do what he would have and walked would have done. and i've walked out. that's my statement to them. enough. it's them. it's not good enough. it's not think they're all feeling not i think they're all feeling the now. and i he's the same right now. and i he's got the audacity to keep mentioning money and what they've spent. but he hasn't got they've spent. but he hasn't got the decency to respond to a question with a yes or no answer , which is what we need. i'm not here for money. i'm here to get my dad's life recognised my my dad's life recognised and my pain suffering recognised . pain and suffering recognised. now the prime minister said that almost a billion, almost half £1 billion has already been paid out in interim compensation payments . payments. >> but of course that is not coming close to where the families and indeed their loved ones expect. after a scandal

that ran for more than 20 years, after thousands of people have already died and many thousands more are living with life changing circumstances , this is changing circumstances, this is an inquiry that still has many months to go . months to go. >> thank you very much, tom howard has our deputy political edhon howard has our deputy political editor. thank you, tom. right. well, let's move on. police scotland has found themselves in a hairy situation. that's after a hairy situation. that's after a backlash from officers on the so—called beard ban . the force so—called beard ban. the force had demanded hundreds of staff remove their beards and moustaches by the end of may. in order to wear protective masks. but frontline officers complained over the plans to enforce a clean shaven rule so police scotland has delayed the ban. agreed to review it again in a year . ban. agreed to review it again in a year. well, author at the spectator, michael simmons, says this is another example of scotland's extreme covid policies. inevitably falling apart. as ever. chat with them now . so of course people have to now. so of course people have to wear masks over covid, but there's no covid now while there is covid. but we're not mask

wearing. so you're saying this this is really extension of this is really an extension of that, should shave the that, that they should shave the beard they wear a mask, it'll beard if they wear a mask, it'll beard if they wear a mask, it'll be more effective in some way . be more effective in some way. >> yeah, absolutely. >> yeah, absolutely. >> so , you know, everything >> so, you know, everything scotland did under nicola sturgeon's leadership and during covid was basically about making the rules sort of stricter or harsher than what was south of the border in england . even the border in england. even though the results ended up being basically the same. and part of that was public bodies in scotland, including police, having to look at their health and safety kind of measures . and and safety kind of measures. and one things that police one of the things that police scotland came up with that scotland came up with was that to wear the, you know, the ffp free masks, the sort of high grade surgical masks to wear them effectively, it wouldn't work if you had a beard. so police scotland said there was going to be disciplinary issues unless their officers shaved their beards so that the kind of mask could fit on. and one of the things in kind of the dying days leadership days of sturgeon's leadership was kind of continuing these

covid policies on and think, you know, now that she's gone, we're seeing that start to fall apart. and this is kind of one of the dominoes you just cannot and this is kind of one of the donaloes you just cannot and this is kind of one of the dona covid you just cannot and this is kind of one of the dona covid justification annot and this is kind of one of the dona covid justification for ot use a covid justification for this beard policy. now it does seem a bit extreme that you could be asked to remove something that is occurring naturally on your face just because. >> so you can wear a mask that actually you're not really likely to wear it. it was quite an extreme thing. it went on and on and on. well, even when we learned they as learned that they weren't as effective as they could have been. really top been. but these are really top of top of the range of the range, top of the range masks, aren't they? they're the ones that actually apparently work right . ones that actually apparently work right. is there any justification? mean , justification? yes. i mean, yeah, was kind of police yeah, that was kind of police scotland's defence and justification was that if we're going to make our officers wear masks, they should be the kind going to make our officers wear mitop, they should be the kind going to make our officers wear mitop grade should be the kind going to make our officers wear mitop grade masks be the kind going to make our officers wear mitop grade masks that1e kind going to make our officers wear mitop grade masks that there d going to make our officers wear mitop grade masks that there is of top grade masks that there is a small amount of evidence for and is a bit of evidence and there is a bit of evidence that the effectively that that the more effectively that you actually wear the mask, the more they can do. >> they came up with this >> so they came up with this idea that the beard meant that bits getting through. idea that the beard meant that bits know, etting through. idea that the beard meant that bits know, get|g through. idea that the beard meant that

bits know, get ridhrough. idea that the beard meant that bits know, get rid of ugh. idea that the beard meant that bits know, get rid of the. idea that the beard meant that bits know, get rid of the beard you know, get rid of the beard and, you know, maybe that would have kind of washed two years ago. think with covid, you ago. but think with covid, you know, nobody thinks about covid, not numbers are not anymore. covid numbers are so low. hospitalisations are the lowest they've been. and not that anyone even knows what hospital nations are now, but when you look at them , they are when you look at them, they are they the lowest ever they are the lowest ever been. so have just so i think it would have just been of this policy. it continued. >> that was a nightmare that whole thing. it feels like >> that was a nightmare that whole dreamthing. it feels like >> that was a nightmare that whole dream that. it feels like >> that was a nightmare that whole dream that just eels like >> that was a nightmare that whole dream that just went ike >> that was a nightmare that whole dream that just went on. a bad dream that just went on. but over. but but thank god it's over. but nicola we're nicola sturgeon, we're not heanng nicola sturgeon, we're not hearing much from her all hearing much from her at all now. she's evaporated now. she's sort of evaporated into nowhere . into somewhere, but nowhere. it's interesting, though , it's quite interesting, though, that these these sort of policies, other policies, are there any other policies, are there any other policies hanging on policies that are hanging on after covid that really have no place now , since the disease place now, since the disease is not what it was many years ago ? not what it was many years ago? >> yeah. so one other thing that involves the police and they brought in this policy , this brought in this policy, this came from the government, but the police kind of have to enforce that drinking on trains and scotland's public transport network was basically banned throughout covid. and the idea was that that would make the

trains safer because people wouldn't wouldn't be tipsy and wouldn't wouldn't be tipsy and wouldn't mixing or going up wouldn't be mixing or going up and the carriage and then and down the carriage and then at end of sort lockdowns at the end of sort of lockdowns and covid and the government decided we're just going to keep this to make the this policy on to make the trains like a nicer place. and also scottish and has, also because scottish and has, you know, huge drug deaths, queues, alcohol problems. and despite a lack evidence, the despite a lack of evidence, the scottish government's approach to sort of try and to that is to sort of try and restrict liberty things. restrict liberty and ban things. so extended this kind of so they extended this kind of this ban of drinking on trains and actually the police themselves have said that they want that to be looked at now. but the government, think, but the government, i think, just has announced that just recently has announced that that that going that that that ban is going to kind of continue indefinitely. >> okay . yeah. give an >> okay. yeah. you give them an inch, they'll take more than that. michael simmons, you that. michael simmons, thank you very course, the very much. he's, of course, the author spectator. thank author at the spectator. thank you is gb news you so much. this is gb news on tv , online and on digital radio. tv, online and on digital radio. if joined me, it's if you've just joined me, it's just minutes if you've just joined me, it's just 4:00. minutes if you've just joined me, it's just 4:00. now, minutes if you've just joined me, it's just 4:00. now, here'sinutes if you've just joined me, it's just 4:00. now, here's autes if you've just joined me, it's just 4:00. now, here's a story after 4:00. now, here's a story from the that caught my from the papers that caught my eye. top university, king's college london has, according to the daily telegraph staff, has

excluded white lecturers from free tai chi classes. a memo which advertised the event is reported as saying that it was for staff who identify as black people of colour are the global majority . a king's college majority. a king's college london spokesperson is reported as saying we are proud to be a university which is committed to creating an inclusive environment . creating an inclusive environment. but this is strengthened by the work of our volunteer staff networks at the king's, who represent different communities among our staff and help provide support for the challenges they experience through a variety of events , through a variety of events, discussions and activities. but the telegraph goes on to say that not all lecturers are happy with the policy and some have questioned it as to how it would actually help with inclusivity . actually help with inclusivity. so lovely to talk about that. get in touch with all your thoughts just reminder of thoughts and just a reminder of this afternoon's huge breaking news. oscar winning actor kevin spacey has been found not guilty of nine sex offences as that's following a trial at southwark

crown court. people your views coming gbviews@gbnews.com. you can also tweet me at gb news. still loads more to come this is gb news. i'm nana. akua we are britain's news channel. >> the temperature's rising . >> the temperature's rising. boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on . gb news. weather on. gb news. >> afternoon. i'm alex deakin and this is your latest weather update from the met office for gb news the cloud is spilling in. it's already turned pretty soggy in the west and more rain to spread in for most of us overnight. the breeze is also picking up to the west and increasingly weather from picking up to the west and increareagly weather from picking up to the west and incr

through the night. but for most it's dank, murky , damp it's a dank, misty, murky, damp and drizzly night. but it will be warm, warmer than last night for sure. temperatures staying in mid teens, quite a humid in the mid teens, quite a humid feel then first thing on thursday morning, drab cold thursday morning, a drab cold start. outbreaks of rain in many places, some heavier bursts likely across parts of scotland, although the northern may although the northern isles may well and bright and well stay dry and bright and elsewhere. actually, it'll brighten little bit through brighten up a little bit through the south coast likely the day. the south coast likely to stay pretty there'll to stay pretty murky. there'll be showers elsewhere , but be a few showers elsewhere, but a sunshine could see a bit of sunshine could see temperatures in east getting temperatures in the east getting into possibly . we into the mid 20s, possibly. we could then spark some heavy could also then spark some heavy showers through the afternoon . showers through the afternoon. now, friday looks brighter for most and drier, not completely dry . they'll still be dry. they'll still be a sprinkling of showers around , sprinkling of showers around, particularly coming into northern ireland later in the day. but elsewhere, some sunny spells and temperatures getting into high teens. 20s into the high teens. low 20s expect plenty more showers, though, more this weekend . though, once more this weekend. >> the temperatures rising . boxt >> the temperatures rising. boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on gb news .

news >> so good afternoon. this is gb news. we are the people's channel. i'm nana akua. i'm in country being story that we've been discussing. kevin spacey . been discussing. kevin spacey. the breaking news that happened this afternoon . he's been

this afternoon. he's been cleared. he's not guilty on all counts. so that's all the charges being put against him. he's not guilty. so he's got lots of things in the pipeline coming up will be interesting to see there. see where he goes from there. and banking , and then moving on, d banking, of course, dame alison rose, she's gone. but we'll be hearing from nigel farage later on and find out because he's asking he's the whole board he's saying the whole board should what do you should go. but what do you think? who running think? who will be running natwest? but some go. natwest? but some to go. she can't be the only one held responsible. nigel farage, of course, will be live here gb course, will be live here on gb news and holiday news later on and then holiday in if you are in rows or in hell if you are in rows or places where those wildfires are still raging, will be covering all that as british tourists all of that as british tourists make their back the make their way back from the greek islands and greek islands to the uk. and then still to come in this hour, we'll be looking at this wonderful icon. who is he of course, he's the fabulous mick jagger. course, he's the fabulous mick jagger . he is course, he's the fabulous mick jagger. he is 80 today. he's rolling . on yes, it's mick

rolling. on yes, it's mick jagger's birthday. so happy birthday to mick will be looking at some of the highlights of his career. don't forget, you can get in touch in the usual way. vaiews@gbnews.com or tweet me at gb news. but first, let's get your latest news headlines with polly middlehurst . your latest news headlines with polly middlehurst. nana. >> thank you. and good evening to you. the top story on gb news this evening, the hollywood actor kevin spacey says he's grateful to the jury and he's humbled after being found not guilty of sexually assaulting four men. appearing outside southwark crown court today, spacey addressed the media following the verdict. the crown prosecution service saying they respected the decision of the court. the 64 year old oscar winning actor shed tears as he said the jury had cleared him of everything wrong. >> i imagine that many of you can understand that . there's a can understand that. there's a lot for me to process after what has just happened today , but

has just happened today, but i would like to say that i'm enormously grateful to the jury for having taken the time to examine all of the evidence and all of the facts as carefully before they reached their decision . and i am humbled by decision. and i am humbled by the outcome today . the outcome today. >> well, in other news today, the former ceo of natwest is no longer a member of the prime minister's business council. dame alison rose has also resigned from her role on the energy efficiency task force and is no longer a member of the net—zero council. after she was asked to step down by the secretary of state . and it all secretary of state. and it all comes after ms rose admitted she discussed nigel banking discussed nigel farage's banking status with the exclusive coutts bank with the bbc journalist and had to step down herself from natwest group . firefighters natwest group. firefighters continue to tackle wildfires circling the mediterranean , circling the mediterranean, claiming the lives we understand , of about 40 people so far ,

, of about 40 people so far, around 3000 holidaymakers have fled the island of rhodes in greece with temperatures they're set to achieve 45 c in southern italy, around 2000 people have been evacuated from hotels in a popular tourist resort. as fire rages there , a major heatwave is rages there, a major heatwave is sweeping across not just southern europe, but also north africa , where at least 34 people africa, where at least 34 people have died. blazes have also broken out in other parts of the world, including portugal, gran canaria, southern france, tunisia and as far east as syria . here the prime minister was met with jeers and heckling as he defended the government's response to the infected blood scandal. today whilst he was giving evidence to the inquiry, rishi sunak said he didn't personally see a letter in 2020 preparing for the possibility of paying preparing for the possibility of paying compensation to victims . paying compensation to victims. over three years and still saw no concrete compensation framework in sight and no

information about that. >> what it might look like is that good enough? >> i think what i'd say is, of course people want to . see all course people want to. see all i'd say is in order for the government to make decisions on compensation, it is rightly has asked an independent inquiry , a asked an independent inquiry, a man who spent 17 years in prison for a rape he did not commit has won the fight to clear his name. >> 57 year old andrew malkinson was found guilty of raping a woman in greater manchester in 2003, and the following year he was jailed for life with a minimum term to serve of seven years. his conviction was overturned after fresh dna evidence emerged linking another suspect to the crime. his lawyers have said the conviction could have wider implications for the criminal justice system. today we told this court i was innocent and finally they listened . and but i have been

listened. and but i have been innocent all along for each of those 20 years that came before today. >> nothing . any police officer >> nothing. any police officer caught it or commission said about me . since 2003, chief about me. since 2003, chief changed that reality . changed that reality. >> andrew malkinson , the owner >> andrew malkinson, the owner of tottenham hotspur football club, has surrendered himself to the us authorities in manhattan after being charged over an alleged insider trading scheme . alleged insider trading scheme. 86 year old british billionaire joe louis is accused of abusing his access to corporate boardrooms and providing insight information to others who then allegedly made millions of dollars on the us stock market. a spokesperson for tottenham hotspurs football club says though it is a legal matter and it isn't connected with the club , a consultation on train ticket office closures, which was due to end today, has now been

extended to the 1st of september. the train operators unveiled proposals earlier this month for multiple closures of the offices after the transport secretary, mark harper , urged secretary, mark harper, urged them to cut costs. the plans have been criticised groups have been criticised by groups representing passengers in the rmt . that's your latest news rmt. that's your latest news headunes. rmt. that's your latest news headlines . you're with jb news. headlines. you're with jb news. more news as it happens. back now akua . now to nana akua. >> thank you, polly. we start with this afternoon's huge breaking news. the hollywood star kevin spacey has been found not guilty of all charges in his trial for sexual assault. gb news political reporter paul hawkins looks at the background to the case. kwarteng sir , to the case. kwarteng sir, another high profile individual abusing their power or an innocent man wrongly accused . innocent man wrongly accused. >> the trial of kevin spacey was always going to generate huge

media interest. the crown prosecution service has authorised four charges of sexual assault against hollywood actor kevin spacey relating to three men. >> the hollywood actor kevin spacey has been charged by the crown prosecution service with a further seven sex offences by the end of the trial, spacey faced nine counts of sexual offence allegations by four different men from 2001 to 2013. >> it was at this west end theatre during a charity event in 2005. that one of those men said spacey grabbed him by his private parts and made lewd comments about him. the man later telling police it was like a cobra. but the hollywood actor said the man made his entire story up from beginning to end, describing the prosecution case as weak. kevin during the trial, spacey called himself a big flirt . the prosecution said he flirt. the prosecution said he was a sexual bully . another man was a sexual bully. another man claimed spacey drugged him and he woke up in the actor's flat to find the oscar winner

performing a sex act on him. the hollywood actor denied drugging him and said it was a consensual sexual experience romantic sexual experience and romantic situation . central to the situation. central to the prosecution's case was that he used his power and status to carry out the assaults. many of them included allegations that he grabbed , squeezed and touched he grabbed, squeezed and touched his four victims, genitals and buttocks over their clothing between 2005 and 2013, mostly dunng between 2005 and 2013, mostly during his time as artistic director at the old vic theatre , one accuser claimed spacey grabbed his genitals on their way to a ball at elton john's house in 2002. but giving evidence, the singer said the actor attended the white tie and tiara event in 2001, the only year he could remember him attending grateful to our fans dunng attending grateful to our fans during the trial , the jury had during the trial, the jury had claim and counter—claim them. although spacey admitted he got the signals wrong with one accuser, but also described a sexual encounter with another as a romantic situation . he said he a romantic situation. he said he was lonely at times and found it

hard to trust people because of his fame. before this trial, there had already been multiple allegations in the united states by men and women. some leading to private prosecutions about spacey's behaviour allegations he's always denied and private lawsuits. he successfully defended . but the damage to his defended. but the damage to his 40 year career has been considerable. the tv and film projects dried up. >> you know, i happen to believe that we get what we deserve. >> netflix dropped him from their hit show house of cards success fully suing him for costs incurred . totalling $31 costs incurred. totalling $31 million. spacey still has two films, including a british political thriller slated for release this year. but now that he's been acquitted, the question is whether he can rebuild his career to its previous stature . paul hawkins previous stature. paul hawkins gb news i reckon he can do it. >> but now to the natwest banking scandal that has seen the group's now former ceo, dame alison rose , resign in disgrace.

alison rose, resign in disgrace. now around this time yesterday , now around this time yesterday, she admitted being the source. i mean, who could i mean, it was quite obvious . i don't know why quite obvious. i don't know why she didn't do it sooner, but she admitted to being the source who leaked details about leaked inaccurate details about nigel's account to the bbc. leaked inaccurate details about nigethe account to the bbc. leaked inaccurate details about nigethe natwestount to the bbc. leaked inaccurate details about nigethe natwest board» the bbc. leaked inaccurate details about nigethe natwest board still bbc. leaked inaccurate details about nigethe natwest board still gave but the natwest board still gave them her backing. then at p.m, them her backing. then at 7 pm, nigel dame alison nigel called on dame alison rose, as as natwest rose, as well as other natwest bosses, down, and that bosses, to stand down, and that was that was followed by reports that chancellor hunt had chancellor jeremy hunt had serious concerns over how the matter had been dealt with by natwest. but at the end of the day , it was reported that the day, it was reported that the natwest would to natwest board would meet to discuss alison rose's future, and was just before 1:30 am. and it was just before 1:30 am. that journalists were sent a briefing note that rose was to resign by mutual consent. nigel hill now wants the whole natwest board to resign . board to resign. >> i didn't think she could last beyond the end of the week. we have on friday the half yearly figures coming in. there is an investor meeting at 930 that morning. so she's gone and that's a start because the board

that's a start because the board that sanctioned this culture, a culture that talks about diversity and inclusion and actually is very divisive and in my case, as you could clearly see, pretty poisonous stuff. i think any board member that endorsed that statement last night where they said we breached confidentiality, but she can stay in her post, frankly , i think the whole board frankly, i think the whole board needs to go . needs to go. >> well, let's speak to gb news political reporter catherine foster. catherine. nigel says they all need to go . how they all need to go. how realistic is that ? well well, realistic is that? well well, there's no sign of that happening at the moment. >> but of course, things change very fast, don't they? because only at tea time yesterday, dame alison rose was saying yes , that alison rose was saying yes, that she had made, you know , a she had made, you know, a serious error of judgement , but serious error of judgement, but she wasn't going anywhere. and she wasn't going anywhere. and she had the board's full support at that point. of course , that at that point. of course, that changed with that emergency board meeting. follow following noises from number 10 and the chancellor making it clear that

they were deeply unhappy with they were deeply unhappy with the situation and she's gone. but nigel farage, i think this is as he said, really only the beginning because, of course, it's not just about nigel farage and coutts bank. it's about free speech, isn't it? and it's about banks respecting confidential 40 of their customers. and so we've seen the fallout today . natwest seen the fallout today. natwest has dropped by 4% in its value of its shares as it's wiped . of its shares as it's wiped. about £850 million off the value of the company. a company that is 39% owned by us, the british taxpayer, because of course they were bailed out, weren't they, dunng were bailed out, weren't they, during the financial crisis? i was talking to people a little bit earlier about what they made of all this. let's see what they had say. of all this. let's see what they hac it's say. of all this. let's see what they hacit's absolutely , absolutely. >> it's absolutely, absolutely. a bank account with natwest. >> are you? >> are you? >> i closed it because of their behaviour. they are appalling and the whole board should go. >> don't really have an opinion

, but probably she's she's wrong. >> she's wrong and she no , not really. >> we don't support farage. so it's not the matter of which she should have stepped down. i think large companies have to stick by their moral conduct and they have to preserve their corporate values first and foremost . and supporting clients foremost. and supporting clients like nigel farage actually jeopardises their position as a company that it actually has any values . values. >> it all seems a bit of an overreaction , isn't it, do you overreaction, isn't it, do you think? i think so. >> do you think she should have stayed in position? yeah >> why not? >> why not? >> so a range of opinions there, but certainly this has sparked a much wider conversation in the banking sector. now, city minister andrew griffith met with banking bosses this morning . they all agreed, apparently, that banks should not be removing people's accounts over whether they didn't like their

politics opinions. and he said, ihope politics opinions. and he said, i hope the whole financial sector learns from this incident their role is to serve customers well and fairly, not to tell them what or how to think. the government is looking at stronger measures potentially possibly regulation . ian so possibly regulation. ian so i think the effects of this will go on and on and i suspect we're probably only at the beginning of this . of this. >> catherine, thank you very much. that's catherine foster. she's gb news political reporter. wow honestly, do you think they should all go ? i'd think they should all go? i'd love to hear your thoughts. remember, you can get lots more on that on our website. and get this is the fastest this gbnews.com is the fastest growing national news website in the country. it's got the best analysis and opinion as well as the latest breaking news. well, gb news is campaigning to stop the uk becoming a cashless society and the campaign is called don't kill cash. and it's proving to be hugely popular already more than 233,000 people

have signed it. now, the petition is also on our website. gbnews.com forward slash cash or or if you've got a smartphone, use it to click on the qr code on your screen right now to take you to the petition. help gb news with our campaign and tell the authorities don't kill cash . well, moving on, a state of emergency has been declared on the greek islands of rhodes as wildfires continue to rage . stay wildfires continue to rage. stay tuned. i'm nana akua on gb news britain's news

7:00 this evening. gb news on the people's . channel the people's. channel >> well , the people's. channel >> well, welcome the people's. channel >> well , welcome back. >> well, welcome back. >> well, welcome back. >> it's just coming >> well, welcome back. >> it'sjust coming up >> well, welcome back. >> it's just coming up to 20 minutes after 5:00. this is at gb news. we're live on tv online and on digital radio. i'm nana aquino. in a few minutes, i'll be discussing a call from the united nations to ban kids from having mobile phones in school. and we'll play tribute to mick jagger, who's celebrating his 80th today . but i've 80th birthday today. but i've got read you some of these got to read you some of these emails talked emails because, look, we talked about the banking scandal and what's going it seems what's going on. well, it seems people are withdrawing their money natwest. i've one money from natwest. i've got one here julie. she says, my here from julie. she says, my elderly mother today asked me to help her move her money out of natwest after using it all her life. will be helping her go onune life. will be helping her go online to move and close the account. the lady at 81 is not amused with their behaviour. there's another one here from glen. glen says , please let glen. glen says, please let nigel know that we've started

withdrawing 85 k from natwest and realised we can get a much better interest rate elsewhere . better interest rate elsewhere. best regards. another one here. i think this is from margaret. she says, i think the full board should go. i think that you interview you into interviewed has done exactly what the bank did. he said that they should not have nigel farage because of who he is and his father, i presume his father stood and allowed him to say that discrimination because i've missed that. so i've gone on. i've missed a bit there. another one open there at the same time. but look, we've lot here. but look, we've got a lot here. there's andy here. andy there's one from andy here. andy says these moral that says all these moral banks that harp on about oil companies should stop accepting transactions. they are against, such as fuel from vehicles and homes. then we'd see their morals, what their morals really are, and let people move bank to show agreement or objection in loads of them coming in. honestly, people are not happy with nigel with with what's happened to nigel. pete says. i

wonder what amount rose will expect as a golden payoff . i was expect as a golden payoff. i was thinking that as well. i don't want her to have a pay off. we partly own. in fact, we're the biggest shareholders of natwest, so don't really want it to so i don't really want it to have anything to another one here. so many of you coming in on this , not only this one's on this, not only this one's from snooki in scotland. snooki, you know who you are. he said, not only should davis and flavell go davis of course, as the boss, the overall boss, flavell is the head of coutts plus the rest of natwest board follow rose and resign. but rose and davies and any others should lose their title because we can't have people who behave that way. being able to present themselves as being endorsed by our monarch and hence our state. lots of you coming in on this whole natwest debacle . well, whole natwest debacle. well, andy says one simple way to ensure cash doesn't disappear is to make it law for businesses to accept cash as a form of payment at all times. if companies like starbucks and centerparcs are forced to accept cash , then it forced to accept cash, then it will never disappear. and he

says keep good work gb says, keep up the good work gb news best get on tv and radio and online. well, listen , a and online. well, listen, a state of emergency. stay tuned. keep them coming. vaiews@gbnews.uk but a state of emergency has now been declared on the greek island of rhodes as the wildfires continue to rage out of control, authorities have warned that six new regions in greece are now facing extreme danger from wildfires . and danger from wildfires. and thousands are being evacuated from homes and hotels. and it's not just greece, actually, that's been affected in italy , that's been affected in italy, burnt hills surround the ancient temple of segesta after the fire broke out at the archaeological site and gb news viewers can also see blazes burning around the city of palermo on sicily and parts of which have been devastated . if you're watching devastated. if you're watching on tv , you can see that if you on tv, you can see that if you go to gb news online or you're listening on radio, check out the website. now, the risk alerts also been raised to alerts has also been raised to extreme for mallorca and high for and menorca . adding to for ibiza and menorca. adding to the challenges for tour operators and holiday companies,

let's over to rhodes now let's cross over to rhodes now to reporter paul to join our reporter paul hawkins, who is there live . hawkins, who is there live. paul hawkins, who is there live. paul, so the devastation is not just in rhodes, but it's spreading to other parts of the country. but you are in rhodes now. what's going on now ? now. what's going on now? >> so in the last few minutes, we've seen this huge flotilla of fire engines make its way down this road and off into the distance followed by men on pickup trucks with frankly, huge cylinders of water, huge cubes of water on the back of their trucks as they're trying to support the emergency services as best they can. there's a huge army of volunteers, frankly, from the community supporting the firefighters , looking after the firefighters, looking after tourists, looking after locals that have been evacuated. we've just been in up in a village in the mountains. there was lots and lots of bottled water and food that had been donated by the northern part of the island because we must keep stressing this. yes, there is a state of

emergency across the island , but emergency across the island, but there is only the sort of southern part of the island that is affected the northern part, the industry continues. the tourist industry continues. tourists continue to arrive. people are having their holidays . and frankly, you wouldn't really happening or really know what's happening or there too many signs of there aren't too many signs of what in south. what is happening in the south. we stopped actually, we just stopped here actually, because the fire because this is where the fire reached few ago when it reached a few days ago when it crossed here, jumped the road, continued on way to the sea, continued on its way to the sea, which over in that direction which is over in that direction where as you where there's some smoke, as you can see in the sky, which is coming mountains coming from the mountains over here. then we've just seen here. and then we've just seen this gentleman's property and actually we're not going to get too close to it because we haven't been given permission to go i have just go inside. but i have just spoken and said he's spoken to him and he said he's going speak to going to come back and speak to us but it's us in just a minute. but it's pretty clear happened pretty clear what's happened here. and we did i was here. and we did when i was going back to have going around the back to have a little was little look and see if there was anyone there's it's frankly, anyone in. there's it's frankly, it's complete devastation, frankly, inside the property, around the back at. and i'm going to find out from him when he gets back exactly what's happenedis he gets back exactly what's happened is another water plane

flies . on its way out to flies ahead. on its way out to the ocean. those planes, effectively, they land in the sea, scoop up the water in one run, then take it back. and then they go back and they've been going backwards and forwards , going backwards and forwards, along chinook helicopters along with chinook helicopters dipping into the ocean, extracting water and then extracting the water and then taking the fires in that taking it to the fires in that direction. mentioned direction. we mentioned the volunteers as already earlier. we spoke to this couple. they're from london. one of them is greek. it's one of his villages that's been affected up in the north. they've been helping fight the fires for days now and also trying to look after also been trying to look after the elderly in their village. this had to us this is what they had to tell us about experience yesterday. >> was in big threat and >> it was in a big threat and then thank god the wind changed and the village changed. >> so now it's okay. >> so now it's okay. >> but we still are on alert. >> but we still are on alert. >> did you have to be evacuated ? >> 7- >> they ? >> they told us 7 >> they told us we evacuated, but no. very good. >> okay . okay. and then luckily, >> okay. okay. and then luckily, the wind changed and the threat is gone. for now. >> yeah, now. >> yeah, for now. >> yeah, for now. >> people aren't

>> yeah. but people aren't resting laurels. resting on their laurels. they're they're not being they're not. they're not being complacent, right? no they're not. they're not being conwherelt, right? no they're not. they're not being conwherelt, rightsleep? >> where did we sleep? >> where did we sleep? >> slept yesterday in the >> so we slept yesterday in the monastery, the floor for monastery, on the floor for a few hours as a night shift. so obviously the fires, they raged dunng obviously the fires, they raged during the night. so we were kind keeping an eye out kind of keeping an eye out watch. and we were driving around. fires around. we found a few fires last which meant that last night, which meant that obviously able call last night, which meant that obthe sly able call last night, which meant that obthe fire able call last night, which meant that obthe fire services able call last night, which meant that obthe fire services right call last night, which meant that obthe fire services right ? call last night, which meant that obthe fire services right? but. in the fire services right? but yeah, quite chaotic . yeah, it's been quite chaotic. it's been a lot to do with the volunteers . we've had great it's been a lot to do with the volunthad .we've had great it's been a lot to do with the volunthad greatve had great it's been a lot to do with the volunthad great support|reat it's been a lot to do with the volunthad great support from the we've had great support from the fire obviously fire services, but obviously there's so many fires everywhere. yeah. >> volunteers like >> and the volunteers like yourselves that yourselves and the guys that are supporting the fire service as well. yeah, yeah . the greek >> yeah, yeah, yeah. the greek firefighter , they are like 40 firefighter, they are like 40 hours with no sleep . they are hours with no sleep. they are incredible. i feel proud to be next to them. you know , the news next to them. you know, the news agency afp, quoting an airport official , says 5000 tourists, official, says 5000 tourists, mostly british, have been evacuated from saturday to tuesday . tuesday. >> we know that 20,000 people have been evacuated from this part of the island in total over

the past few days. we spoke to one volunteer today who said we love the tourists. we want them here. right the here. but right now, the priority fires, save priority is stop the fires, save people's businesses, save people's businesses, save people's homes , and save people's homes, and save people's homes, and save people's themselves . i people's lives themselves. i spoke to another villager as well who said, listen , we need well who said, listen, we need the tourists to come back because this island is built on tourism. we know that tourism accounts for a fifth of the greek economy. it's much higher in this part of the world. and frankly, if this island is going to its feet, to get back on its feet, certainly in part certainly in this part of the island, to island, they're going to need the them do that. >> well, listen, paul, thank you very paul hawkins. very much. that is paul hawkins. he's live in rhodes. i he's there live in rhodes. so i want you a story now want to bring you a story now about major advertising body about a major advertising body that's been allegedly receiving funding from an investment firm unked funding from an investment firm linked russian oligarchs and linked to russian oligarchs and controversial american controversial south american mining operations. i'm joined now by gb news investigates reporter charles peters. charlie, talk to me about this group . there are a sort of group. there are quite a sort of group. there are quite a sort of group that are slightly up themselves, aren't they themselves, really, aren't they 7 themselves, really, aren't they ? it mildly. ? just just to put it mildly. well they are indeed. >> i mean, they're called the

conscious advertising network. they themselves as an they describe themselves as an ethical advertising agency and they're trying to break what they're trying to break what they describe as the economic link advertising and link between advertising and what they describe as hate. they have several manifestos for going that . seven, in going about that. seven, in fact, from everything fact, ranging from everything from the from hate speech to the environment . so they really environment. so they really believe campaigning against believe in campaigning against hateful we've hateful conduct. however, we've revealed today that one of their funders, a funding group, they rely on called quadrature caphal rely on called quadrature capital, receives rather a lot of money from a russian firm owned by an oligarch linked to the invasion of ukraine and several mining firms in south america linked to human rights abuse. america linked to human rights abuse . i'll give you some abuse. i'll give you some details of those companies. one of them, it's called ozone holdings. russian holdings. it's the russian e—commerce got e—commerce platform they've got over $100,000 invested into this firm . its ceo, alexander firm. its ceo, alexander alexandrov . shulgin, was at the alexandrov. shulgin, was at the infamous february 24th meeting last year with mr putin when they decided to invade ukraine, sanctioned by the uk asset freeze and travel freeze . but freeze and travel freeze. but also quadrature has $3 million

in pan american silver, which has faced mass protests over its environmental impacts in the continent and $10 million in newmont corporation in 2016. its peruvian subsidy was was found to be putting human rights at risk. so some some significant and rather controversial investments to be sending cash over to an advertiser body, which it says campaigns against environmental destruction and hate. are they linked in some way to stop funding hate because aren't stop funding hate who have been behind many advertising boycotts, including the one for us here at gb news. >> so there they are, associate with these people. >> the association is such that indeed many of stock funding heats lead activists actually founded the conscious advertising network. so the links very closely in terms of personnel. but goes further. personnel. but it goes further. they're linked terms the they're linked in terms of the output well. stop funding. they're linked in terms of the outplworked ll. stop funding. they're linked in terms of the outplworked with:op funding. they're linked in terms of the outplworked with the :unding. they're linked in terms of the outplworked with the conscious hate worked with the conscious advertising network to produce one of those manifestos. i

mentioned earlier, the one on hate speech where they're trying mentioned earlier, the one on ha prevent:h where they're trying mentioned earlier, the one on ha prevent:h wherefrom 're trying to prevent anyone from supposedly advertising in a way which benefits the economy if they share what they believe is hateful conduct or migration, they share what they believe is hatexampleiuct or migration, they share what they believe is hatexample , ct or migration, they share what they believe is hatexample , on)r migration, they share what they believe is hatexample , on gender|tion, they share what they believe is hatexample , on gender issues, for example, on gender issues, they really want to clamp down on that. now, the conscious advertising network has made rather lot of grand rather a lot of grand connections as well. it's it claims that it built the case for ethical advertising at the un. so all rather serious. when i reached out to the conscious advertising network, i got a statement from their project director, marsha jackson, who said, well, they said, thank you for raising this for raising all of this information they said information to us. they said they weren't aware. they weren't aware between the aware of the link between the firm capital. firm and quadrature capital. their with the climate their link is with the climate foundation, funded foundation, which is also funded by investment firm. she by this investment firm. she went on to say that they had seen no evidence that the charity is linked to fossil fuels or human rights abuses. so we've now, i think, provided some evidence and some of that evidence and finally they're going some of that evidence and fincontinue they're going some of that evidence and fincontinue to they're going some of that evidence and fincontinue to review re going some of that evidence and fincontinue to review the oing to continue to review the funding and consider what we've raised with them . raised with them. >> well, they said they condemn

any in instalments in any sort of business like that at all, but yet they are being so conscious and just funding hate. who gone behind many advertising boycotts for people like us, the sun and also the daily mail and people like that to show how wonderful and conscious they are. and they're embroiled are. and yet they're embroiled in all of that. >> it's a very delicate position for them. >> it is bit i'd be interested >> it is a bit i'd be interested to what happens with that. to see what happens with that. we shall follow that. charlie peters, much. peters, thank you very much. thank . good to talk to you. thank you. good to talk to you. interesting, we'll stay interesting, right? we'll stay tuned. on tv tuned. this is gb news on tv onune tuned. this is gb news on tv online digital radio. online and on digital radio. still loads more come. join still loads more to come. join us. i'll be with you till six. we'll debate whether kids should be having mobile be banned from having mobile phones and there's phones in schools. and there's also reaction to our story, also reaction to our top story, the winning actor kevin the oscar winning actor kevin spacey cleared of nine spacey has been cleared of nine sex but first, let's sex offences. but first, let's get your latest news headlines with polly middlehurst . get your latest news headlines with polly middlehurst. nana >> thank you. the headlines this houn >> thank you. the headlines this hour. as you've been hearing, the hollywood actor kevin spacey says he's grateful the jury

says he's grateful for the jury after being found not guilty of sexually assaulting four men between 2001 and 2013. the crown prosecution service said they respected the decision of the court . the 64 year old oscar court. the 64 year old oscar winning actor had tears in his eyes as he was cleared of all allegations . allegations. >> as i imagine that many of you can understand , that there's can understand, that there's a lot for me to process after what has just happened today. i but i would like to say that i'm enormously grateful to the jury for having taken the time to examine all of the evidence and all of the facts carefully before they reach their decision . and i am humbled by the outcome today . outcome today. >> the former ceo of natwest group is no longer also a member of the prime minister's business council or or co—chair of the energy efficiency task force or

a member of the net zero council. it comes after dame alison rose admitted she had discussed nigel farage's relationship with the bank cuts to a bbc journalist, prompting her resignation as ceo. more on all those stories. head to our website, gbnews.com . direct website, gb news.com. direct bullion website, gbnews.com. direct bullion sponsors the financial report on gb news for gold and silver investment . and a quick silver investment. and a quick snapshot for you of today's market. the pound will buy you $1.2926 and ,1.1669. the price of gold is £1,526.27 an ounce , of gold is £1,526.27 an ounce, and the ftse 100 has closed today. and the ftse 100 has closed today . at 7676 points, a direct today. at 7676 points, a direct bullion sponsors the finance report on gb news investments that matter a brighter outlook

with boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on . gb news. of weather on. gb news. >> after noon. >> after noon. >> i'm alex deakin and this is your latest weather update from the met office for gb news. the cloud is spilling in. it's already turned pretty soggy in the west and more rain to spread in for most of us overnight. the breeze is also picking to breeze is also picking up to the wet increasingly windy wet and increasingly windy weather from area of low weather from this area of low pressure weather pressure and these weather fronts chugging in fronts have been chugging in throughout already, throughout the day already, turning wet wales, turning things wet across wales, northern ireland, western parts of england in the east, still dry bright this dry and bright into this evening. even here, the rain evening. but even here, the rain gets the evening . gets in through the evening. northern may dry northern scotland may stay dry until around midnight. it will turn a little drier over northern ireland, parts of wales through the night. but for most, it's misty, murky , damp it's a dank, misty, murky, damp and drizzly night. but it will be warm, warmer than last night for sure. temperatures staying in mid quite a humid in the mid teens. quite a humid feel . then first thing feel. then first thing on thursday drab cold thursday morning, a drab cold start, outbreaks rain in many start, outbreaks of rain in many places, some heavier bursts

likely across parts of scotland, although the northern isles may well dry and bright. and well stay dry and bright. and elsewhere , it'll elsewhere actually, it'll brighten up a little bit through the south likely the day. the south coast likely to murky . there'll to stay pretty murky. there'll be a showers elsewhere, but be a few showers elsewhere, but a see a bit of sunshine could see temperatures in the east getting into the mid possibly . we into the mid 20s, possibly. we could spark some heavy could also then spark some heavy showers through the afternoon. now, friday looks brighter for most and drier. not completely dry. they'll still be a sprinkling of showers around and particularly coming into northern ireland later in the day. but elsewhere, some sunny spells getting spells and temperatures getting into high teens. low 20s into the high teens. low 20s expect plenty more showers, though, this weekend i >> -- >>a >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on gb news is . on gb news is. >> good afternoon . this is gb >> good afternoon. this is gb news live on tv , online and on news live on tv, online and on digital radio. it's just coming up to 37 minutes after 5:00. i'm

nana akua . now more on today's nana akua. now more on today's top story , the two time oscar top story, the two time oscar winning actor kevin spacey has been found not guilty of all nine sexual offences , charges he nine sexual offences, charges he was facing after the verdict. a clearly emotional kevin spacey addressed reporters gathered outside southwark crown court . outside southwark crown court. here's what he had to say. >> i imagine that many of you can understand that there's a lot for me to process after what has just happened today , but i has just happened today, but i would like to say that i'm enormously grateful to the jury for having taken the time to examine all of the evidence and all of the facts as carefully before they reached their decision . and i am humbled by decision. and i am humbled by the outcome today . the outcome today. >> kevin spacey, earlier today . >> kevin spacey, earlier today. let's speak now to journalist at the mail on sunday, charlotte

griffiths. charlotte so an outcome was that one that we expected? i mean, it's one i expected, but what's your view on that ? on that? >> i think it was pretty expected and i thought his his humble reaction was actually quite unexpected . quite unexpected. >> i was expecting him to be a bit vitriolic, but actually he was very quiet and very calm and considered. and he just said he was very humbled verdict was very humbled by the verdict . um, yeah , it does feel, . um, so yeah, it does feel, though, that there is now this climate where people can kind of make accusations and then there's a whirlwind and the person who's being accused now has to find the funds to either fight and save their name . fight and save their name. >> do you think that we are living in that sort of era now and something needs happen? and something needs to happen? obviously, the media. obviously, you're in the media. you've seen it on social media all the time. people being accused that they have accused of things that they have not and this stuff sticks i >> -- >> yeah, it's true. i mean, kevin spacey is obviously a major, major a—list hollywood star with two oscars to his

name. so he's got the funds. but he had to give back $31 million to the house of to his house of cards show. and i think, you know, reports say he spent between 2 and $3 million on this court case. so that's a lot of money to clear his name. and then the next question is, has he actually cleared his name of course, he's been cleared of these assault charges. but in these assault charges. but in the of public opinion , the court of public opinion, cancel culture, twitter , his cancel culture, the twitter, his twitter followers, will they all forgive him of these alleged crimes he didn't commit? it remains to be to be seen . remains to be to be seen. >> it will be interesting to see how things pan out. do you think that he'll be able to resurrect his film career even though he has actually been working still throughout but obviously throughout this, but obviously some of the budget pictures some of the big budget pictures and that been and movies that he's been working kind of working on have kind of withdrawn support him i >> -- >> yeah , i 5mm >> yeah , i think you're right. i >> yeah, i think you're right. i think the big budget pictures, you know, the disney's and the marvel's and the franchises, they're not going to be nipping at but if he if he is

at his heels. but if he if he is as humble as he says he is and he in the european he starts maybe in the european market, with indies market, maybe with some indies pendant maybe a sort of pendant films, maybe a sort of a french indie film , he could french indie film, he could maybe slowly build himself back up. but, you know , hollywood up. but, you know, hollywood somewhere where you know , somewhere where you know, insurance is sort of amazing . insurance is sort of amazing. important studios are very nervous. you know, i think it'll be slowly, slowly for him in terms of his return to film. but he's an incredibly talented actor. and we mustn't forget that. you know, he won two oscars. he's done brilliant films. there's a lot of raw talent there . and so i think talent there. and so i think i think and there's also the theatre land as well. you know, he's got close links with the old vic, so he maybe might want to start in theatre there and build up. and think he build his way up. and i think he probably that and is probably realises that and is quite pragmatic about how it's going out . going to play out. >> this is probably almost a good moment for in a sense good moment for him in a sense that his birthday, he's that it's his birthday, he's been because mean, been cleared because i mean, you saw johnny saw what happened with johnny depp. too depp. i mean, he's not doing too badly since what happened to him, badly since what happened to hinyeah, johnny depp's got an >> yeah, johnny depp's got an amazing following on

amazing cult following on twitter where he has these diehard , sort really intense diehard, sort of really intense fans. diehard, sort of really intense fans . i diehard, sort of really intense fans. i don't diehard, sort of really intense fans . i don't know if kevin fans. i don't know if kevin spacey has got those kind of fans. there wasn't a fans. and also there wasn't a sort of single enemy because social media just loves a sort of good guy and guy. and of good guy and a bad guy. and with johnny depp, there with with johnny depp, there were sort of people who were these sort of people who were these sort of people who were people that were pro amber and people that were pro amber and people that were and was a sort were pro him and it was a sort of battle which is a slightly different really . it's different thing, really. it's more sort of online social more of a sort of online social media cult behind johnny depp . media cult behind johnny depp. but kevin spacey is just a sort of raleigh, you know, talented actor who probably deserves to be on the big screen again if he's cleared his name. so it's a slightly a slightly different he's cleared his name. so it's a slight“ a slightly different he's cleared his name. so it's a slight“ think, htly different he's cleared his name. so it's a slight“ think, iny different he's cleared his name. so it's a slight“ think, in terms'ent he's cleared his name. so it's a slight“ think, in terms oft he's cleared his name. so it's a slight“ think, in terms of the fans. >> well, let's see. we'll watch this charlotte, thank this space. charlotte, thank you very much. that's charlotte griffiths. mail very much. that's charlotte gri sunday. mail very much. that's charlotte gri sunday. now mail very much. that's charlotte gri sunday. now it mail very much. that's charlotte gri sunday. now it is mail very much. that's charlotte gri sunday. now it is a mail very much. that's charlotte gri sunday. now it is a big ail very much. that's charlotte gri sunday. now it is a big day on sunday. now it is a big day for one of the greatest singers of all time, mick jagger. for one of the greatest singers of all time, mick jagger . yes, of all time, mick jagger. yes, he's celebrating his 80th birthday today. i'm nana akua on gb news britain's news

gbnews.com on tv, radio and onune gbnews.com on tv, radio and online gb news. >> britain's news . online gb news. >> britain's news. channel >> britain's news. channel >> welcome back. we're live on tv, online and on digital radio. this is gp news. i'm nana akua . this is gp news. i'm nana akua. now the united nations is calling for smartphones to be banned from schools to help stop disruption in the classroom. now, in a major new report, the un's education agency unesco says the ban would improve learning and help protect children from online bullying. now it says that there's evidence, too, that too much screen time leads to poorer

performance and a negative effect on children's emotional stability. let's put this to tech journalist will guyot and head teacher catherine pebble saying , right, so head teacher catherine pebble saying, right, so i'm going to start with catherine first. smartphone in schools. should they be there ? should kids be they be there? should kids be allowed to have them in their no , i mean, my advice to families is not to give your child a smartphone until at least the age of 16. >> all of the big tech ceos in in california, they do not give access to their children , to its access to their children, to its unsupervised access to the internet. that's the problem . internet. that's the problem. and that's what smartphones give you. >> they put your child in physical danger. >> they put their mental health in danger . in danger. >> they they there's all kinds of studies that demonstrate that it their brains. it breaks their brains. >> anecdotally very >> i see it anecdotally very clearly. the children who don't have phones, they move upsets . have phones, they move upsets. >> the children who do have phones, they sets, phones, they move down sets, they don't perform as well in their exams . there is just no their exams. there is just no question , um, that children , if

question, um, that children, if they are going to be allowed time on the phone the parent needs to be watching that and the parent needs to reduce the amount of time on there. there are some children that will spend 7 to 8 hours a day on a smartphone . um, and the stuff smartphone. um, and the stuff that they watch is really just horrifying . horrifying. >> well, if i punish my daughter, i just say, i'll be taking phone from you. is taking that phone from you. is that. oh will, will guyot that was felt almost. >> well it felt offensive and untrue to me. >> um, i don't disagree that we have a situation in that we have to better manage young people on mobile devices. that's just my personal view. however for banning them and suggest doing all of those things that your other guest has just mentioned. i'd love to see evidence and proof of all of those claims you've just made , because i you've just made, because i don't believe they're true . don't believe they're true. there are concerns about how children use devices and there

are definitely concerns about safety . i don't think using safety. i don't think using a mobile phone , in fact, affects mobile phone, in fact, affects the intelligence of every child, as you've just suggested . and i as you've just suggested. and i also think there is much that parents can do and should do to police use of phones but don't think they should be banned . think they should be banned. >> i don't think you can put the genie back in the bottle. >> i don't this is a >> and i don't believe this is a case should be banned case of they should be banned completely because believe completely because you believe they're completely because you believe the there are many positives to >> there are many positives to using devices , too, and using these devices, too, and there positives for there are many positives for young people who use these devices . devices. >> there negatives, but >> there are negatives, but you've completely ignored the positives. >> but catherine is as >> well, but catherine is as a head teacher, she'd have seen this firsthand. catherine >> i do. and when steve jobs was asked about the ipad in 2010 by journalists and whether or not what his children thought of it, he said, well, of course i'm not giving it to my children. >> mad. as say, >> that would be mad. as i say, all guys know this stuff all the guys who know this stuff , if you watch, mean, you can , if you watch, i mean, you can read books about it because people get things. people get these things. >> is that the people >> the fact is that the people who know the inside track, i

know the inside track. >> i'm not just making this stuff up. >> track not try and >> track two do not try and belittle . belittle. >> do not try and belittle and talk suggest that all talk down and suggest that all tech bosses do not let their young children use devices. >> hang on, hang on. no, no, no, no. hold on. well have you got children ? children? >> yes, i do have children. i have a four old. have a four year old. >> your children know >> so your children know children given children have been given a smartphone. you planning smartphone. are you planning to give old phone give your four year old a phone at point ? at some point? >> that's of course, i will be giving my child a smartphone. >> how old? how old? how old is the right age? have i haven't made that decision yet, but a 16 year old is an adult. >> you cannot hold somebody not having a device until the age of 16. >> mobile devices and computing are used in school as curricula subjects. >> no, no, no. >>— >> no, no, no. >> can be placed and used . >> can be placed and used. >> can be placed and used. >> well, if i'm paying for that device, i cannot buy the device . i can tell you that. now, catherine. >> what? you don't see is what i see happening. >> and teachers that i speak to all over the country, all of the

altercations that start on their and gang members who have access to your children because you don't know what's happening. >> let us finish. sorry. let me finish . finish. >> you keep interrupting me. the fact is that i have many, many stories of children. >> 27 year old man showing himself coming in and out of the shower to 12 year olds, girls who said who sell nudes online for £1, two boys in their class. i could go on about the number of stories of children who are led astray and then what happens is the parents come and say, what do i do? what do i do? and i say, you shouldn't have given them a smartphone the first them a smartphone in the first place. parents who place. and those parents who then take phone away, what then take the phone away, what they is, my goodness they always say is, my goodness , i've got my child back. my child had gone. their personality changed. and now personality had changed. and now look at them. i'm not making this up. they are. i'm going to give it will a chance to respond. >> will on handful of >> will focusing on a handful of edge cases. >> i am not disputing that there are some awful people who use

technology and there are some uses of technology , but what you uses of technology, but what you are doing is trying to suggest all of these things are the experience that every family and every parent says. >> you say you're a teacher and you hear this stuff. >> i work on radio stations and broadcast on stations to millions people week , and i millions of people a week, and i speak parents about the speak to parents about the positive of technology positive nature of technology and technology can do to and what technology can do to improve people's lives. >> i'm going to stop you >> but i'm going to stop you there we're running there because we're running out of and catherine as well, it's >> and catherine as well, it's really good to talk to you. we could about this for ages. really good to talk to you. we cotcatherineiout this for ages. really good to talk to you. we cotcatherine once his for ages. really good to talk to you. we cotcatherine once said,r ages. really good to talk to you. we cotcatherine once said, we |es. really good to talk to you. we cotcatherine once said, we could as catherine once said, we could talk about this for ages. i'd love about this. listen, love to talk about this. listen, i've to say you i've got to say thank you so much contribution. but much for your contribution. but i this, i gave i can say this, when i gave my daughter she daughter her mobile phone, she changed immediately that changed immediately with that phone. person and will look different person and will i look forward happens forward to seeing what happens when old when your four year old gets old enough to one that's enough to have one that's well, get and also get tech journalist and also headteacher catherine burbles saying, , now of course a saying, well, now of course a great mick jagger has turned 80 today, proving you can always get what you want as a wrinkly rocker, at least the singer who invented the very idea of the

frontman has reached his ninth decade and has thanked his fans for their well wishes. so joining me now is actor, singer, radio personality and television presenter paul jones joins paul kraki . mick jagger, i can kraki. mick jagger, i can remember in the first time 80 mick jagger and i have had a very empty relationship for a lot of years now. >> but the people always ask me one question is it true that bnan one question is it true that brian jones asked you to become a member of the rolling stones and i say, no, he didn't. >> he asked me to become the singer of a band he was forming. i said no. and subsequently he got mick jagger. >> no. so you could have been the front man of the rolling stones, but you turned it down in search. >> certainly not. i couldn't have no , the rolling stones have no, the rolling stones would only be the rolling stones with mick and keith in it.

would only be the rolling stones with mick and keith in it . and with mick and keith in it. and you know, if i'd joined brian's band, he and i would probably be about the same level as i'm at now , which is pretty good, now, which is pretty good, actually. i'm enjoying myself. >> yeah, i see what you mean when you say your relationship. so you've never you've never met the man though. you've met the man though. you've never met mick does mick jagger. but what does he mean he's mean to you then? he's 80. he's been for some time. your been going for some time. your thoughts on him? >> the early days, >> well, back in the early days, there was definitely a rivalry between us. and i remember one time he he sort of his contribution to this rivalry was to ask when i was going to become a member of the pretty things , which was a sort of not things, which was a sort of not rolling stones band. and there was a connection because as dick taylor from the pretty things had been one of the people that bnan had been one of the people that brian actually was. i don't know whether he was seriously asking dick, but certainly they did play dick, but certainly they did play together. and so that makes

two of us who weren't rolling stones. well, i guess i guess dick taylor would claim that he was a rolling stone in the very early days. anyway, my abiding memory of mick in relation to myself is i have had a band called the blues band from 1979 up until 2022, and we were playing at el mocambo in toronto to recount this memory. >> so in brief, what happened you got about 10s paul because i've got to go in a minute, but i've got to go in a minute, but i want to hear just mick i want to hear just to say mick jagger was unbelievably helpful to the blues band at that point. >> he had no need to be, no reason to be. he was just being generous and i'm i'm so happy to see him so fit, so youthful. okay. welcome to the octogenarian society. >> thank you. thank you for that, paul jones won't be quiet. listen stay with me, though, because, of course, dewbs& co martin daubney is taking over

this tonight from tubes. now, listen , i got a message in here listen, i got a message in here saying that about natwest from eric saying , why don't we just eric saying, why don't we just make natwest a national bank for the people, then offer low interest rates new house bars interest rates to new house bars that banks. that would shake up the banks. what good or what do you think? good idea or bad? what do you think? good idea or bacso we're asking tonight, >> so we're asking tonight, would nigel >> so we're asking tonight, would kick nigel >> so we're asking tonight, would kick the nigel >> so we're asking tonight, would kick the politics el >> so we're asking tonight, would kick the politics out, farage? kick the politics out, go woke, go broke the bank of nigel. we want it. >> martin daubney is up next on dewbs& co >> looks like things are heating up.bob >> looks like things are heating up. bob boilers proud sponsors of weather on . gb news afternoon. >> i'm alex deakin and this is your latest weather update from the met office for gb news the cloud is spilling in. it's already turned pretty soggy in the west and more rain to spread in for most of us overnight. the breeze also picking up to the breeze is also picking up to the wet increasingly windy wet and increasingly windy weather area low weather from this area of low pressure in these weather fronts have chugging throughout have been chugging in throughout the turning things the day already turning things wet wales, northern wet across wales, northern ireland, western parts of england in the east, still dry

and evening. and bright into this evening. but here, the rain gets in but even here, the rain gets in through evening. through the evening. northern scotland may stay dry until around . it will turn around midnight. it will turn a little drier over northern ireland, parts of wales through the night. but for it's the night. but for most, it's a dank, misty , murky, damp and dank, misty, murky, damp and drizzly night. but it will be warm, warm again last night for sure. temperatures staying in the mid teens, quite a humid feel. then first thing on thursday morning drab thursday morning, a drab old start. of rain in start. outbreaks of rain in many places, some heavier bursts likely across parts of scotland . although the northern isles may stay dry and bright and may well stay dry and bright and elsewhere. actually, it'll brighten bit through brighten up a little bit through the the coast likely the day. the south coast likely to pretty murky. there'll to stay pretty murky. there'll be a few showers elsewhere, but a could see a bit of sunshine. could see temperatures the east getting temperatures in the east getting into the 20s, possibly . we into the mid 20s, possibly. we could then spark some heavy could also then spark some heavy showers through the afternoon . showers through the afternoon. now, friday looks brighter for most and drier, not completely dry . they'll still be dry. they'll still be a sprinkling of showers around , sprinkling of showers around, particularly into particularly coming into northern ireland later in the day. but elsewhere, some sunny spells temperatures spells and temperatures getting into . low 20s into the high teens. low 20s expect showers,

expect plenty more showers, though, once this weekend . though, once more this weekend. >> looks like things are heating up. boxed boilers proud sponsors of weather on gb news as.

time to kick the politics out of banks and launch a woke free bank. perhaps even calling it the bank of nigel. and now, before you think i've been drinking, i suggested it the drinking, i suggested it to the big earlier. he quite likes big man earlier. he quite likes the and as new report the idea. and as a new report shows, 20 renters are chasing every property that comes onto the market. has britain been caught a perfect storm of caught in a perfect storm of soaring immigration and liberal nimbyism? have you been struggling to find a home recently? if so, we'd like to hear from you. vaiews@gbnews.com next, as the un recommends banning smart phones from classrooms , asking phones from classrooms, asking why the heck were they even allowed in classrooms in the first place? and they're back . first place? and they're back. yes, the sussexes are backing a ridiculous campaign, calling for

gender stereotypes in